LA Times Crossword Answers 13 Oct 15, Tuesday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: Mike Peluso
THEME: Inside Story … we have a hidden word INSIDE each of our themed answers today, the hidden word TALE:

62A. Truth known only to a few … and a hint to a word hidden in 18-, 27-, 39- and 49-Across INSIDE STORY

18A. Ruthless adversary MORTAL ENEMY
27A. Serious software problem FATAL ERROR
39A. ’60s-’70s “Hollywood Squares” semi-regular RUTA LEE
49A. Wisenheimer SMART ALECK

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 10m 03s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

1. Attorneys’ degs. JDS
The law degree that is abbreviated to J.D. stands for Juris Doctor.

4. Clipper or Laker, briefly NBAER
The Los Angeles Lakers NBA team started off life as the Buffalo Braves in 1970. The Braves took on the Clippers name when the franchise moved to San Diego in 1978. The new team name was chosen in honor of the great clipper ships that used to pass through San Diego Bay. The San Diego Clippers were sold in 1982 to real estate developer Donald Sterling, who moved the team to his native Los Angeles two years later. That move was not approved by the NBA, which resulted in a lawsuit and a $6 million fine, but the team was allowed to stay in its new home.

16. Jigsaw puzzle unit PIECE
The original jigsaw puzzles were created by painting a picture on a sheet of wood and then cutting the picture into small pieces using a jigsaw, hence the name. Today, almost all jigsaw puzzles are pictures glued onto cardboard. The puzzle pieces are then die-cut, and there’s no jigsaw involved at all.

17. Norse war god TYR
Týr is the Norse god of single combat, victory and heroic glory. According to legend, Týr showed great courage when he and his fellow gods were attempting to shackle the wolf monster called Fenrir. The wolf was tricked into accepting bindings that were actually magical ribbons of great strength. Fenrir submitted to the bonds because Týr agreed to place his hand in the wolf’s mouth, as a gesture of assurance that the ribbon was harmless. When Fenrir recognized the deceit, he bit of Týr’s hand. As a result, the god Týr is almost always depicted with only one hand.

34. Hyundai luxury model AZERA
The Hyundai Azera was the name used worldwide for the model known as the Hyundai Grandeur in its homeland of South Korea. The Azera was produced from 1986 to 1992.

38. Actress Hagen UTA
Uta Hagen was a German-born American actress. Hagen married Jose Ferrer in 1938, but they were divorced ten years later after it was revealed that she was having a long-running affair with Paul Robeson. Her association with Robeson, a prominent civil rights activist, earned her a spot on the Hollywood Blacklist during the McCarthy Era. This forced her away from film, but towards a successful stage career in New York City.

39. ’60s-’70s “Hollywood Squares” semi-regular RUTA LEE
Ruta Lee is a Canadian actress and dancer who is best known for playing one of the brides in the 1954 movie “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. Lee also appeared as a regular panelist on the game shows “Hollywood Squares” and “What’s My Line?”

43. Video game letters NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was sold in North America from 1985 to to 1995. The NES was the biggest selling gaming console of the era.

45. Slip-on shoes PUMPS
A pump is a woman’s shoe that doesn’t have a strap. Such shoes are probably called “pumps” because of the sound they make while walking in them.

49. Wisenheimer SMART ALECK
A smart Alec or wise guy might be called “Wisenheimer”. The term is mock German or Yiddish and dates back to the very early 1900s.

Apparently the original “smart Alec” (sometimes “Aleck”) was Alec Hoag, a pimp, thief and confidence trickster who plied his trade in New York City in the 1840s.

52. Obsessed whaler captain AHAB
Captain Ahab is the obsessed and far from friendly captain of the Pequod in Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick”. The role of Captain Ahab was played by Gregory Peck in the 1956 John Huston film adaptation. Patrick Stewart played Ahab in a 1998 miniseries in which Peck made another appearance, as Father Mapple.

55. Half of the hip-hop duo Black Star MOS DEF
Mos Def is the former stage name of actor and rapper Dante Terrell Smith-Bay, now known as Yasiin Bey. Mos Def is one of the few rap stars who is really making a name for himself in the world of movies. He received critical acclaim for roles in 2003’s “The Italian Job” , 2005’s “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, and for a featured role in an episode of television’s “House”.

Black Star is a hip hop duo composed of rappers Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli. The pair got together in Brooklyn, New York in 1997.

58. Certain NCO SGT
An NCO is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces. Usually such an officer is one who has earned his or her rank by promotion through the enlisted ranks. A good example would be a sergeant (Sgt.).

65. Agcy. with narcs DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

“Narc” is a slang term for a law enforcement officer who tracks down criminals associated with illegal drugs.

67. Greek goddesses of the seasons HORAE
The Horae of Greek mythology were the goddesses of the seasons. There were several Horae, many of them associated with natural portions of time. Most commonly there were three, and sometimes ten (later twelve) Horae, or “Hours”, associated with the times of the day. For example, Auge was the goddess of first light, Gymnastika was the goddess of the morning hour for exercise, and Dysis was the goddess of sunset.

71. McMahon and Sullivan EDS
Ed McMahon was Johnny Carson’s sidekick on “The Tonight Show” (Here’s Johnny!). McMahon was trained as a fighter in WWII, but did not see action. However he saw a lot of action in the following conflict as he did fly 85 combat missions in Korea.

Ed Sullivan’s most famous television role was as host of the “The Ed Sullivan Show”, which ran from 1948 to 1971, a total of 23 years. In that final year, a new set of CBS executives wanted to update the image of the network and announced the cancellation of most of the “old” shows including “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Sullivan was so mad at the decision that he refused to make a “farewell” episode.

Down
1. One of two MetLife Stadium NFL teams JETS
Just like the New York Giants, the New York Jets are based in New Jersey, headquartered in Florham Park. The Jets and the Giants have a unique arrangement in the NFL in that the two teams share Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets were an AFL charter team, formed in 1959 as the Titans of New York. The Titans changed their name to the Jets in 1963.

2. Belafonte hit DAY-O
“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” is a traditional folk song from Jamaica. It is sung from the standpoint of dock workers unloading boats on the night shift, so daylight has come, and they want to go home. The most famous version of “Day-O” was recorded by Harry Belafonte, in 1956.

4. “Platoon” war zone NAM
“Platoon” is a 1986 movie, written and directed by Oliver Stone. The storyline comes out of Stone’s own experiences in Vietnam as an infantryman. It is gritty stuff, and is Stone’s response to the more “glamorous” movie “Green Berets” starring John Wayne. And that famous piece of classical music included the soundtrack, that is “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber.

5. WWI era English poet Rupert BROOKE
Rupert Brooke was a poet from England who is known for a series of war sonnets that he wrote during WWI that were entitled “1914”. The most famous of these sonnets is “The Soldier”.

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

8. “Michael Collins” actor Stephen REA
Stephen Rea is an Irish actor from Belfast. Rea’s most successful role was Fergus in 1992’s “The Crying Game”, for which performance he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. In “The Crying Game”, Fergus was a member of the IRA. In real life, Rea was married to IRA bomber and hunger striker Dolours Price at the time he made the movie.

Michael Collins was one of the most famous leaders of the revolutionary war that led to an independent Irish state after the British withdrew. There is an excellent Neil Jordan biopic called “Michael Collins” that was released in 1996 with Liam Neeson in the title role. British actor Alan Rickman does a great job playing Éamon de Valera, the man who opposed Collins in the Irish Civil War that followed independence.

13. Husband-and-wife creators of Curious George REYS
Curious George is a character in a series of children’s books written by Hans Augusto and Margret Rey. The couple wrote the original stories in Paris, taking the manuscripts with them as they fled from the city ahead of the Nazi invasion in 1940.

19. Doctor House portrayer Hugh LAURIE
English actor and comedian Hugh Laurie used to be half of a comedy double act with Stephen Fry called simply “Fry and Laurie”. Fry and Laurie met in Cambridge University through their mutual friend, the actress Emma Thompson. Over in North America, Laurie is best known for playing the title role in the medical drama “House”.

21. Prevaricator LIAR
“To prevaricate” is to stray from the truth. The term comes from a Church Latin word meaning “walk crookedly”.

25. Lewis’ partner CLARK
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were soldiers in the US Army. Lewis was a personal aide to President Thomas Jefferson, even residing in the Presidential Mansion. This exposure contributed to his selection as leader of the famous expedition. William Clark was actually Lewis’s boss for a while before Clark retired. Lewis asked Clark to come out of retirement to accompany him on his three-year exploration.

26. Monastic hood COWL
A cowl is a long garment with a hood that is primarily worn by monks in the the Christian tradition.

27. Flora’s partner FAUNA
The fauna (plural “faunae”) is the animal life of a particular region, and the flora (plural “florae”) is that region’s plant life. The term “fauna” comes from the Roman goddess of earth and fertility who was called Fauna. Flora was the Roman goddess of plants, flowers and fertility.

28. Ancient Mexican AZTEC
The Aztec people of Central America dominated the region in the 14th – 16th centuries. Two traits of the Aztec people are oft cited today. They built some magnificent pyramids, and they also engaged in human sacrifice. The two traits were linked in a way … for the consecration of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan, 84,400 prisoners were sacrificed over a period of four days.

29. Rodeo rope RIATA
“Reata” is the Spanish word for “lasso”. We tend to use the spelling “riata” in English, but sometimes can use the original Spanish word.

“Rodeo” is a Spanish word that is usually translated as “round up”.

31. Life-ending season in Ecclesiastes A TIME TO DIE
According to the Book Ecclesiastes in the Bible:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

32. Socially insensitive, in a way NON-PC
Non-politically correct (non-PC)

36. Tibet neighbor NEPAL
Nepal lies to the northeast of India. Today, the state is known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. In 2008, the Communist Party of Nepal won the country’s general election. Soon after, the Assembly voted to change the form of government, moving away from a monarchy and creating a secular republic.

41. Mausoleum TOMB
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the grave of King Mausolus of Persia, known as the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. This gave us our modern word “mausoleum”: a building containing a burial chamber. The most famous mausoleum in the world has to be the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

46. 1997 movie beekeeper ULEE
“Ulee’s Gold” is a highly respected film from 1997 in which Peter Fonda plays the title role of Ulee. Ulee’s “gold” is the honey that Ulee produces. It is a favorite role for Peter Fonda and he has shared that playing Ulee brought to mind his father Henry Fonda, who himself kept a couple of hives. So if you see Peter Fonda in “Ulee’s Gold” you’re witnessing some characteristics that Peter saw in his father.

48. Tire type RADIAL
Radial tires (actually “radial-ply” tires) are so called because the cord plies embedded in the rubber are arranged radially from the centre of the tire. This means that the plies are at right angles to the direction of travel. In older tires, the plies were criss-crossed over each other, at angles of 60 and -60 degrees from the direction of travel. Such tires are called “cross-ply” or “bias” tires.

51. Letter-shaped shoe fastener T-STRAP
A t-strap is a t-shaped strap that is part of many women’s shoes. The strap is in two parts, with one part going across the ankle, and the other lying along the length of the foot on top.

56. “Dedicated to the __ Love” ONE I
“Dedicated to the One I Love” is a song that is most associated with the Mamas and the Papas as they had a hit with it in 1967. Back in 1961, the same song was a big hit for The Shirelles.

57. Grounded fast planes, briefly SSTS
The most famous supersonic transport (SST) is the retired Concorde. Famously, the Concorde routinely broke the sound barrier, and cruised at about twice the speed of sound. Above Mach 2, frictional heat would cause the plane’s aluminum airframe to soften, so airspeed was limited.

58. Spartan promenade STOA
A stoa was a covered walkway in Ancient Greece. A stoa usually consisted of columns lining the side of a building or buildings, with another row of columns defining the other side of the walkway. The columns supported a roof. Often stoae would surround marketplaces in large cities.

Sparta was a city-state in ancient Greece, famous for her military might. Spartan children had a tough upbringing, and newborn babies were bathed in wine to see if the child was strong enough to survive. Every child was presented to a council of elders that decided if the baby was suitable for rearing. Those children deemed too puny were executed by tossing them into a chasm. We’ve been using the term “spartan” to describe something self-disciplined or austere since the 1600s.

61. Fifth Avenue retailer SAKS
Saks Fifth Avenue is a high-end specialty store that competes with the likes of Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus. The original Saks & Company business was founded by Andrew Saks in 1867. The first Saks Fifth Avenue store was opened on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1924. There are now Saks Fifth Avenue stores in many major cities in the US, as well in several locations worldwide.

64. “Amen!” YES!
The word “amen” is translated as “so be it”. “Amen” is said to be of Hebrew origin, but it is likely to be also influenced by Aramaic and Arabic.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Attorneys’ degs. JDS
4. Clipper or Laker, briefly NBAER
9. Up to now SO FAR
14. Sup EAT
15. Get up ARISE
16. Jigsaw puzzle unit PIECE
17. Norse war god TYR
18. Ruthless adversary MORTAL ENEMY
20. Planting ground SOIL
22. Have debts OWE
23. Joints often sprained ANKLES
24. Words before card or lock PICK A …
26. Precious CUTE
27. Serious software problem FATAL ERROR
30. “Rats!” DANG!
34. Hyundai luxury model AZERA
35. Victor’s cry I WIN!
37. Besides TOO
38. Actress Hagen UTA
39. ’60s-’70s “Hollywood Squares” semi-regular RUTA LEE
42. __ bind: stuck IN A
43. Video game letters NES
44. Circular imperfection in wood KNOT
45. Slip-on shoes PUMPS
47. One with a killer serve ACER
49. Wisenheimer SMART ALECK
52. Obsessed whaler captain AHAB
54. Boating stopover ISLET
55. Half of the hip-hop duo Black Star MOS DEF
58. Certain NCO SGT
59. Billions of years EONS
62. Truth known only to a few … and a hint to a word hidden in 18-, 27-, 39- and 49-Across INSIDE STORY
65. Agcy. with narcs DEA
66. Mark with a sale price, say RETAG
67. Greek goddesses of the seasons HORAE
68. Vex IRK
69. Airline seat choice AISLE
70. Hinged fasteners HASPS
71. McMahon and Sullivan EDS

Down
1. One of two MetLife Stadium NFL teams JETS
2. Belafonte hit DAY-O
3. Erotic dance STRIPTEASE
4. “Platoon” war zone NAM
5. WWI era English poet Rupert BROOKE
6. High-flying battles AIR WAR
7. East, in Mexico ESTE
8. “Michael Collins” actor Stephen REA
9. Exhausted SPENT
10. Made a pig of oneself? OINKED
11. Have a hunch FEEL
12. Summit ACME
13. Husband-and-wife creators of Curious George REYS
19. Doctor House portrayer Hugh LAURIE
21. Prevaricator LIAR
25. Lewis’ partner CLARK
26. Monastic hood COWL
27. Flora’s partner FAUNA
28. Ancient Mexican AZTEC
29. Rodeo rope RIATA
31. Life-ending season in Ecclesiastes A TIME TO DIE
32. Socially insensitive, in a way NON-PC
33. “__ your mother” GO ASK
36. Tibet neighbor NEPAL
40. More than a little risky UNSAFE
41. Mausoleum TOMB
46. 1997 movie beekeeper ULEE
48. Tire type RADIAL
50. Hardships RIGORS
51. Letter-shaped shoe fastener T-STRAP
53. Line of shrubbery HEDGE
55. Juan’s “Look!” MIRA!
56. “Dedicated to the __ Love” ONE I
57. Grounded fast planes, briefly SSTS
58. Spartan promenade STOA
60. Techie, stereotypically NERD
61. Fifth Avenue retailer SAKS
63. Librarian’s rebuke SHH!
64. “Amen!” YES!

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7 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword Answers 13 Oct 15, Tuesday”

  1. Another surprisingly challenging early week puzzle. They should do these every week. I had my own FATAL ERROR for 40D I had INSANE rather than UNSAFE which led to RITA LEE and MOSDEN. I recognized both MOS DEF and RUTA LEE when I saw the correct answers, but they did't come to mind when it counted.

    The most entertaining chronicle of the Lewis and Clark expedition for me is still Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage. Hard to believe that book is 20 years old now.

    Great info on the HORAE. That's what keeps me coming back here every day. Gymnastika?
    Really? I guess there's no limit to what I don't know….

    Best –

  2. Challenging puzzle for this early in the week, but I managed to finish it.

    T-r, was very difficult – I tried all the vowels of the alphabet. Also I forgot about Day-O, although the song is very familiar. Finally I realized that 'y' is also a vowel. ;-D) I was thinking of Thor.

    I didn't know that little Hyundai actually had a 'luxury' model. Will wonders never cease. lol.

    Now I need to read up more on T-straps and Lewis and Clark.
    Have a happy day, all.

  3. So near and yet so far.
    I had Olmec crossing Alera, and further down the row had Brooks, so never saw fatal error.
    The only war movies I watch have Gene Kelly dancing through shore leave, so got Platoon confused w Saving Private Ryan (haven't seen either). I couldn't fit anything European in the space. Finally figured that one out.

    I think it's going to be a tough week!

    Bella

  4. Agree with Vidwan, this was definitely more challenging than a typical Tuesday puzzle. Once again I temporarily shot my self in one of big feet when I confidently inserted "as yet" for 9 across "Up to now" – I gotta quit doing that (and I gotta quit coming here and telling you all how I did it by NOT doing it anymore!).

    Hope everyone has a good day. See you all back here for hump day tomorrow.

  5. Only got hung up on Ruta Lee (never heard of her). HORAE tripped me for a minute because there's no "h" in the Koine alphabet, the sound is noted with a carat before the word, something like 'orae.

  6. It's all Greek to me! I had an I instead of O for HORAE/STOA. It's a Natick of the ancient world, IMO.
    Other than that bit, challenging for a Tuesday but fun. I had RUBY DEE before RUTA LEE!! Theme was cute and it actually helped me.
    Enjoy your Wednesday, and we'll reconvene then!

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