LA Times Crossword Answers 18 Jan 16, Monday

Quicklink
Jump to a complete list of today’s clues and answers

CROSSWORD SETTER: Kevin Christian
THEME: Final Aspirations … each of today’s themed answers ends with a synonym of “aspiration”, which is very apt on the day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, given his memorable “I have a dream” speech.

17A. 1994-2000 medical drama CHICAGO HOPE
24A. One is made before blowing out candles BIRTHDAY WISH
48A. Narrow-mindedness TUNNEL VISION
58A. Historic 1963 civil rights speech words I HAVE A DREAM

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 4m 35s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

1. Labor leader Jimmy who vanished in 1975 HOFFA
Jimmy Hoffa headed off to meet with two Mafia leaders at a restaurant in a suburb of Detroit on July 30, 1975. The two men he was supposed to meet denied any appointment was made, and they were seen in public in other locations far from the restaurant. Hoffa was spotted by passers by in the restaurant parking lot, the last time he was ever seen. His wife reported him missing later that night, and the resulting police investigation failed to find Hoffa or his body. Hoffa was declared legally dead in 1982, seven years after he disappeared.

6. Good, in Guadalajara BUENO
Guadalajara is a populous city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The Mexican city is named after the city of the same name in the center of Spain.

11. Tech co. whose name is its ticker symbol IBM
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) can give some quite descriptive ticker symbols to companies, for example:

– Anheuser-Busch (BUD, for “Budweiser”)
– Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP, as in “beer tap”)
– Steinway Musical Instruments (LVB, for “Ludwig van Beethoven”)
– Sotheby’s (BID, for the auction house)

14. Sunni’s faith ISLAM
The Islamic sects of Sunni and Shia Muslims differ in the belief of who should have taken over leadership of the Muslim faithful after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Followers of the Sunni tradition agree with the decision that the Prophet Muhammad’s confidant Abu Bakr was the right choice to become the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. Followers of the Shia tradition believe that leadership should have stayed within the Prophet Muhammad’s own family, and favoured the Prophet’s son-in-law Ali.

15. Exclamation that’s a near-homonym for an Arabian Peninsula country OH MAN!
The Arabian Peninsula is shaped like a boot, with the Sultanate of Oman occupying the toe of that boot.

17. 1994-2000 medical drama CHICAGO HOPE
The medical drama “Chicago Hope” originally ran from 1994 until 2000. The show is set in the fictional private charity hospital known as Chicago Hope.

19. 35mm camera type SLR
SLR stands for “single lens reflex”. Usually cameras with changeable lenses are the SLR type. The main feature of an SLR is that a mirror reflects the image seen through the lens out through the viewfinder, so that the photographer sees exactly what the lens sees. The mirror moves out of the way as the picture is taken, and the image that comes through the lens falls onto unexposed film, or nowadays onto a digital sensor.

20. Big galoot APE
“Galoot” is an insulting term meaning an awkward or boorish man, an ape. “Galoot” comes from the nautical world, where it was originally what a sailor might call a soldier or marine.

21. Terre Haute sch. ISU
Indiana State University (ISU) was established in Terre Haute in 1865, as the Indiana State Normal School. ISU’s sports teams are called the Sycamores.

Terre Haute, Indiana is a city close to the state’s western border with Illinois. The name “Terre Haute” was chosen by French explorers in the 18th century to describe the location, as “terre haute” is French for “high ground”.

22. Fragrant compound ESTER
Esters are very common chemicals. The smaller, low-molecular weight esters are usually pleasant smelling and are often found in perfumes. At the other end of the scale, the higher-molecular weight nitroglycerin is a nitrate ester and is very explosive, and polyester is a huge molecule and is a type of plastic. Fats and oils found in nature are fatty acid esters of glycerol.

32. “There’s __ Out Tonight”: 1961 hit A MOON
“There’s a Moon Out Tonight” is a ballad that was recorded originally in 1958 by the Capris, a Doo Wop group from Queens, New York. The song was a “slow burner” for the Capris, eventually becoming a hit in 1961.

35. Network with an eye logo CBS
CBS used to be called the Columbia Broadcasting System. CBS is the second-largest broadcaster in the world, second only to the BBC in the UK. CBS introduced its “eye” logo in 1951.

40. Perlman of “Cheers” RHEA
Rhea Perlman’s most famous role has to be “Carla Tortelli”, the irascible waitress in the long-running sitcom “Cheers”. Perlman is also a successful children’s author, and has published a series of six books called “Otto Undercover”. She is married to Hollywood actor Danny DeVito, and has been so since 1982.

41. Big galoot OAF
“Galoot” is an insulting term meaning an awkward or boorish man, an ape. “Galoot” comes from the nautical world, where it was originally what a sailor might call a soldier or marine.

53. Sleep phase initials REM
REM is an acronym standing for Rapid Eye Movement sleep. REM sleep takes up 20-25% of the sleeping hours and is the period associated with one’s most vivid dreams.

54. Top-row PC key ESC
Escape (ESC)

57. Madre’s hermano TIO
In Spanish, an uncle (tio) is the brother of the father or the mother (hermano del padre o de la madre).

58. Historic 1963 civil rights speech words I HAVE A DREAM
… I remember listening to the full text of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a dream …” speech not long after I moved to this country. I think I am man enough to admit that my eyes misted up as I listened to the words. I also recall thinking how lucky I was to have been invited to live in this great country, which was facing up to some of the sins of its past.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream … I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today … I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together …

63. Justice Dept. arm ATF
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is today part of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The ATF has its roots in the Department of Treasury dating back to 1886 when it was known as the Bureau of Prohibition. “Explosives” was added to the ATF’s name when the bureau was moved under the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the reorganization called for in the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

64. Deodorant brand ARRID
Arrid is an antiperspirant deodorant brand introduced in the thirties. Slogans associated with Arrid have been “Don’t be half-safe – use Arrid to be sure”, “Stress stinks! Arrid works!” and “Get a little closer”.

66. NBA official REF
Back in the early 17th century, a “referee” was someone who examined patent applications. We started using the same term for a person presiding over a sporting event in the 1820s. “Referee” is derivative of the verb “to refer”, and literally describes someone who has the authority to make a decision by “referring to” a book, archive etc.

67. Squiggy’s “Laverne & Shirley” pal LENNY
In the sitcom “Laverne & Shirley”, the title characters lived downstairs from neighbors Lenny and Squiggy, played by Michael McKean and David Lander.

Down
1. Hyphenated fruit drink brand HI-C
Hi-C orange drink was created in 1946, and introduced to the market in 1948, initially in the south of the country. The name Hi-C was chosen to emphasize the high vitamin C content in the drink, as it contained added ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

2. Worker welfare org. OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 during the Nixon administration. OSHA regulates workplaces in the private sector and regulates just one government agency, namely the US Postal Service.

3. Hairstyle with upturned ends FLIP
The flip hairstyle was popular with women in the sixties, and was characterized by an upward curl in the ends of the hair (a “flip”).

5. Dr.’s group AMA
American Medical Association (AMA)

8. Confessional rock genre EMO
The musical genre of “emo” originated in Washington D.C. in the 80s, and takes its name from “emotional hardcore”. “Emo” is also the name given to the associated subculture. Not my cup of tea …

10. Cyclops feature ONE EYE
Cyclops was a one-eyed giant in Greek and Roman mythology. Cyclops lived in Mount Etna, the Sicilian volcano.

11. Laughing uncontrollably IN STITCHES
The term “in stitches” has been used since the thirties to mean laughing hysterically. The idea is that one can laugh so hard one can get a stitch of pain, a pain in the side.

13. Magi’s resin MYRRH
Frankincense and myrrh are both tree resins, exuded when certain species of tree are damaged. The harvested resins are used to make essentials oils for perfumes, and are also burned to give off a pleasant fragrance.

“Magi” is the plural of the Latin word “magus”, a term applied to someone who was able to read the stars. Hence, magi is commonly used with reference to the “wise men from the East” who followed the star and visited Jesus soon after he was born.

18. Encircle GIRD
The phrase “gird your loins” dates back to Ancient Rome. The expression describes the action of lifting “one’s skirts” and tying them between the legs to allow more freedom of movement before going into battle. Nowadays, “gird your loins” is a metaphor for “prepare yourself for the worst”.

23. Nor. neighbor SWE
The country of Sweden emerged during the Middle Ages, and became one of the great powers of Europe in the days of the Swedish Empire in 17th and early 18th century. Since then Sweden’s influence has waned. What was the eastern part of Sweden was lost to Russia in the early 1800s, and is now modern-day Finland. In the 20th century Sweden has adopted a very non-aggressive stance and was neutral in both World Wars.

28. Scott of “Charles in Charge” BAIO
Scott Baio is the actor who played Chachi Arcola in the great sitcom “Happy Days” and in the not so great spinoff “Joanie Loves Chachi”. Baio also played the title role in a later sitcom called “Charles in Charge”. Earlier in his career, he played another title role, in the 1976 movie “Bugsy Malone”, appearing opposite a young Jodie Foster.

29. Jane Austen heroine EMMA
Jane Austen’s novel “Emma” is the tale of Emma Woodhouse and the wonderful George Knightley. On the surface, the title character really isn’t very likeable, described as “handsome, clever and rich” and who shows herself to be spoiled and headstrong. Austen herself wrote before starting on “Emma” that “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like”. Well, I think that most readers come to like the young lady by the end of the tale …

33. “The Simpsons” network FOX TV
“The Simpsons” is one of the most successful programs produced by the Fox Broadcasting Company. Homer Simpson’s catchphrase is “D’oh!”, which is such a famous exclamation that it has been included in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) since 2001.

34. Onassis nickname ARI
Aristotle Onassis was born to a successful Greek shipping entrepreneur in Smyrna in modern-day Turkey. However, his family lost its fortune during WWI and so Aristotle worked with his father to build up a new business empire centered on the importation of tobacco. In 1957, Aristotle founded the Greek national airline, what is today called Olympic Air, and he also got into the business of shipping oil around the world. He married Athina Livanos in 1946, the daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate. They couple had two children together, with one being the famous Christina Onassis. Livanos divorced Onassis on discovering him in bed with the opera singer Maria Callas. Onassis ended his affair with Callas in order to marry Jackie Kennedy in 1968.

36. __ noire BETE
“Bête noire” translates from French as “black beast” and is used in English to describe something or someone that is disliked.

37. Smart-alecky talk SASS
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.

43. __ volente: God willing DEO
“Deo volente” is Latin for “God willing”. If you read letters or emails from Ireland, you might come across “D.V.” in the text, as it is a common abbreviation that we Irish use to mean “God willing” or “Please God”.

47. Peruvian capital LIMA
Lima is the capital city of Peru. Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who named it “la Ciudad de los Reyes” (the City of Kings). He chose this name because the decision to found the city was made on January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany that commemorates the visit of the three kings to Jesus in Bethlehem.

48. Mongol invader TATAR
Tatars are an ethnic group of people, mainly residing in Russia (a population of about 5 1/2 million). One of the more famous persons with a Tatar heritage was Hollywood actor Charles Bronson. Bronson’s real name was Charles Buchinsky.

50. NFL network analyst Michael __ IRVIN
Michael Irvin played football for the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t follow American Football (forgive me!) but did see Irvin on “Dancing with the Stars” on television, and he acquitted himself quite well.

55. Word repeated in a Doris Day song SERA
As Doris Day told us, “que sera sera” is Spanish for “whatever will be, will be”.

Alfred Hitchcock made two versions of the film “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. The first was made in 1934 while Hitchcock still lived in England. It starred Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre in his first English-speaking role. Hitchcock remade the original in 1956, with James Stewart and Doris Day playing the leads. And by the way, in that movie Doris Day sang the Oscar-winning song “Que Sera, Sera”.

56. James of “The Godfather” CAAN
James Caan is an actor from The Bronx, New York City. He is noted for his appearances in some very big movies such as “The Godfather”, “Misery”, “A Bridge Too Far”, “Rollerball” and more recently “Elf”. Caan is quite the sportsman. He plays golf with an 8 handicap, and is a 6-Dan Black Belt Master of Gosoku Karate.

59. 1,000-year Eur. realm HRE
The Holy Roman Empire (HRE) existed from 962 to 1806 AD and was a territory of varying size over the centuries that centered on the Kingdom of Germany. The HRE was a successor to the western half of the Ancient Roman Empire. The empire dissolved in 1806 when Holy Roman Emperor Francis II abdicated after a military defeat by the French under Napoleon at Austerlitz.

60. Prince Valiant’s son ARN
“Prince Valiant” is a comic strip that first appeared in 1937 when it was created by Hal Foster. Edward, Duke of Windsor called the “Prince Valiant” comic strip the “greatest contribution to English literature in the past one hundred years”. I’m not so sure …

61. VIPs at trials DAS
District Attorney (DA)

62. 58-Across speaker, initially MLK
(58A. Historic 1963 civil rights speech words I HAVE A DREAM)
Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) was only 35 years old when he won the Nobel Peace Prize, making him the youngest person to be so honored at that time. King was given the award for his work to end racial segregation and discrimination using non-violent means. The following year he was awarded the American Liberties Medallion by the American Jewish Community.

Return to top of page

For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Labor leader Jimmy who vanished in 1975 HOFFA
6. Good, in Guadalajara BUENO
11. Tech co. whose name is its ticker symbol IBM
14. Sunni’s faith ISLAM
15. Exclamation that’s a near-homonym for an Arabian Peninsula country OH MAN!
16. Aye’s opposite NAY
17. 1994-2000 medical drama CHICAGO HOPE
19. 35mm camera type SLR
20. Big galoot APE
21. Terre Haute sch. ISU
22. Fragrant compound ESTER
24. One is made before blowing out candles BIRTHDAY WISH
28. “Behave yourself!” BE GOOD!
31. Group of ships FLEET
32. “There’s __ Out Tonight”: 1961 hit A MOON
33. Autumn FALL
35. Network with an eye logo CBS
38. Ideal “Are you hurt?” reply I’M OK
39. Raid FORAY
40. Perlman of “Cheers” RHEA
41. Big galoot OAF
42. Parkway off-ramp EXIT
43. Songs for two DUETS
44. Magnified map detail INSET
47. Eyeglasses pair LENSES
48. Narrow-mindedness TUNNEL VISION
52. Make mad ANGER
53. Sleep phase initials REM
54. Top-row PC key ESC
57. Madre’s hermano TIO
58. Historic 1963 civil rights speech words I HAVE A DREAM
63. Justice Dept. arm ATF
64. Deodorant brand ARRID
65. Hearing-related AURAL
66. NBA official REF
67. Squiggy’s “Laverne & Shirley” pal LENNY
68. Punish with a swat SPANK

Down
1. Hyphenated fruit drink brand HIC
2. Worker welfare org. OSHA
3. Hairstyle with upturned ends FLIP
4. Social media website FACEBOOK
5. Dr.’s group AMA
6. Elevate BOOST
7. “Yup” UH-HUH
8. Confessional rock genre EMO
9. Afternoon snooze NAP
10. Cyclops feature ONE EYE
11. Laughing uncontrollably IN STITCHES
12. Hay bundles BALES
13. Magi’s resin MYRRH
18. Encircle GIRD
23. Nor. neighbor SWE
25. Charged particle ION
26. Black key after C D-FLAT
27. Partner in war ALLY
28. Scott of “Charles in Charge” BAIO
29. Jane Austen heroine EMMA
30. Messing around GOOFING OFF
33. “The Simpsons” network FOX TV
34. Onassis nickname ARI
36. __ noire BETE
37. Smart-alecky talk SASS
39. Touch FEEL
40. Second-place finisher RUNNER-UP
43. __ volente: God willing DEO
45. Opposite of SSW NNE
46. Story told in episodes SERIAL
47. Peruvian capital LIMA
48. Mongol invader TATAR
49. Come together UNITE
50. NFL network analyst Michael __ IRVIN
51. Not at all swank SEEDY
55. Word repeated in a Doris Day song SERA
56. James of “The Godfather” CAAN
59. 1,000-year Eur. realm HRE
60. Prince Valiant’s son ARN
61. VIPs at trials DAS
62. 58-Across speaker, initially MLK

Return to top of page