LA Times Crossword Answers 30 Jun 2018, Saturday

Advertisement

[ad_above_grid]

Advertisement

Advertisement

Constructed by: Brian E. Paquin
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Theme: None

Bill’s time: 12m 39s

Bill’s errors: 2

  • Aaron Hall (Baron Hall!!)
  • TYGA (TYGB!!)

Advertisement

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1. Complies with a “Star Trek” order : MAKES IT SO

When I think of words spoken by Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the TV show “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, the first quote to come to mind is his catchphrase “Make it so”. The second quote that comes to mind is the introduction that is spoken during the opening credits:

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!

This introduction comes from the lines spoken by Captain James T. Kirk in the original “Star Trek” series, but those lines have been updated. Kirk’s “five year mission” became “continuing mission”, and Kirk’s “no man” became “no one”. However, the famous split infinitive “to boldly go” was left in place, in all its glory.

10. Larkish? : HAPPY

That’s me; as happy as a lark.

16. Stan’s partner : OLLIE

Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy in 1892 in Harlem, Georgia. Hardy used the stage name “Oliver” as a tribute to his father Oliver Hardy. His early performances were credited as “Oliver Norvell Hardy”, and off camera his nickname was “Babe Hardy”. Hardy appeared in several films that also featured the young British actor Stan Laurel, but it wasn’t until 1927 that they teamed up to make perhaps the most famous double act in the history of movies. The Laurel and Hardy act came to an end in 1955. That year, Laurel suffered a stroke, and then later the same year Hardy had a heart attack and stroke from which he never really recovered.

Stan Laurel was an English comic actor (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson), who made a great career for himself in Hollywood. Laurel ended up at the Hal Roach studio directing films, intent on pursuing a career in writing and directing. However, he was a sometime actor and was asked to step in when another comic actor, Oliver Hardy, was injured and couldn’t perform. Laurel and Hardy started to share a stage together during that time and when it was clear they worked so well together, their partnership was born. Oh, and the oft-quoted story that Clint Eastwood is the son of Stan Laurel … that’s just an urban myth.

19. 120 dozen? : TENS

Our word “dozen” is used for a group of twelve. We imported it into English from Old French. The modern French word for twelve is “douze”, and a dozen is “douzaine”.

20. “I Miss You” (1994) R&B singer : AARON HALL

Never heard of him …

22. Ring combination : ONE-TWO

That would be boxing, and a one-two punch, or should it be punches?

25. “Carmen” parts : ARIAS

Georg Bizet was a French composer active in the Romantic era. Bizet’s most famous work has to be his opera “Carmen”. “Carmen” initially received a lukewarm reception from the public, even though his fellow composers had nothing but praise for it. Sadly, Bizet died very young at only 36, before he could see “Carmen’s” tremendous success.

26. Gun offspring? : SON

Whoever constructed this crossword is a real son of a gun …

30. “Growing Up in New Guinea” author : MEAD

“Coming of Age in Samoa” sounds like a fascinating book. It was written by American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead and published in 1928. In the book, Mead examines the behavior of youths in Samoa, making some comparisons with youths in America. One major observation she made was the smooth transition from childhood to adulthood of Samoan girls, compared to what she described as a more troublesome transition in the US. Mead followed up “Coming of Age in Samoa” with a similar work in 1930 titled “Growing Up in New Guinea”, which documented her observations of the people of the Manus Province of Papua New Guinea.

35. Stretch limits : PUSH THE ENVELOPE

The phrase “push the envelope” is a relatively recent one, and only dates back to the 1970s. It was popularized in Tom Wolfe’s celebrated book “The Right Stuff”, as it was oft-quoted during the space program. The envelope in question was the mathematical envelope that had to be “pushed” in order to make the space program successful.

40. Two-time A.L. HR leader Tony : ARMAS

Venezuelan outfielder Tony Armas was quite the hitter before he retired from playing in 1989. He hit more home runs than any other player in the American league on two occasions; in both the 1981 and 1984 seasons.

42. Razor __ : CLAM

Razor clams have long, narrow shells that resemble straight razors in shape, hence their name.

43. Monty Python co-founder : CLEESE

The magnificent actor and comedian John Cleese came to the public’s attention as a cast member in the BBC’s comedy sketch show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”. Cleese then co-wrote and starred in the outstanding comedy “Fawlty Towers”. He even had a role in two “James Bond” films.

45. “Doctor Who” airer : BBC

The iconic science-fiction television show “Doctor Who” first aired in 1963 on the BBC, and relaunched in 2005. The relaunched series is produced in-house by the BBC in Cardiff in Wales, the location that is the setting of the successful “Doctor Who” spin-off called “Torchwood”. The new show is about the Cardiff branch of the Torchwood Institute which investigates incidents involving extraterrestrials. And, “Torchwood” is an anagram of “Doctor Who”.

48. Eastern European capital : SOFIA

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Natives pronounce the name “Sofia” with the emphasis on the “o”, while the rest of us tend to stress the “i”. Bulgarians do agree with us though when it comes to the girl’s name “Sofia”, then they stress the “i” like we do!

50. Small ’90s-’00s Nissan : ALMERA

The Almera was a small family car introduced in 1995 by Nissan to replace the popular Nissan Sunny. I remember backing a Nissan Sunny into a wall just a few months after getting my first driving license …

52. Worked the room : SCHMOOZED

To schmooze is to chat intimately. “Schmooze” is a word that comes from the Yiddish “schmusen” meaning “to chat” .

56. Inventor Sikorsky : IGOR

Igor Sikorsky was a Russian pioneer in the world of aviation. He designed and indeed piloted the world’s first multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft in 1913. He moved to the US in 1919 and set up his own aircraft manufacturing business. In the thirties he made the magnificent flying boats that were used by Pan Am in their Clipper era. Sikorsky also developed the world’s first mass-produced helicopter, in 1942.

57. “Politically Incorrect” host : MAHER

Bill Maher is a stand-up comedian and political commentator. Maher has an HBO television show called “Real Time with Bill Maher” which is essentially a follow-on from the very successful “Politically Incorrect” program that started out on Comedy Central.

64. Sycophant : YES-PERSON

A sycophant is a selfish person, one who flatters. The term comes from the Greek “sykophantes” which originally meant “one who shows the fig”. This phrase described a vulgar gesture made with the thumb and two fingers.

Down

2. Johnson & Johnson brand : AVEENO

Aveeno is a manufacturer of skincare and haircare products that was founded in 1945. The name Aveeno comes from the Latin name for the common oat, i.e. Avena sativa.

The medical company Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886, not by two brothers as the name would suggest, but by three. Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson formed the company initially to manufacture ready-to-use surgical dressings.

3. Wayans family member : KEENEN

Keenan Ivory Wayans is a member of the Wayans family that is so very successful in the world of entertainment. Keenan is perhaps best known for sketch comedy show “In Living Color” that ran from 1990 to 1994. Keenan created wrote and starred in the show with his brother Damon Wayans. Keenan also directed the horror comedy film “Scary Movie”, which was co-written by two other brothers, Shawn and Marlon Wayans.

4. “Trophy, Hypertrophied” artist : ERNST

Max Ernst was a painter and sculptor, and a pioneer in the Dada movement and Surrealism. Ernst was born near Cologne in Germany in 1891 and he was called up to fight in WWI, as were most young German men at that time. In his autobiography he writes “Max Ernst died the 1st of August, 1914” a statement about his experiences in the war. In reality, Ernst died in 1976 having lived to the ripe old age of 85.

5. Stop: Abbr. : STA

A station (“stn.” or “sta.”) is a railroad (RR) stop.

7. “Rack City” rapper : TYGA

“Tyga” is the stage name of hip hop artist Michael Stevenson from Compton, California. Apparently, the stage name comes from the phrase “thank you God always”.

8. McGwire rival : SOSA

Sammy Sosa was firmly in the public eye in 1998 when he and Mark McGwire were vying to be the first to surpass the home run record held by Roger Maris. McGwire fell out of public favor due to stories of steroid abuse (stories which he later admitted were true) while Sosa fell out of favor when he was found to be using a corked bat in a 2003 game.

10. President after Anwar : HOSNI

Hosni Mubarak was the fourth President of Egypt, taking over after Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981. Mubarak resigned in 2011 in the early months of the Arab Spring after 18 days of public demonstrations. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 and is reported to be extremely sick in detention, and is perhaps even on life support.

13. Difficult sort : PILL

The term “pill” can be used to describe a boring and disagreeable person, a “bitter pill to swallow”.

21. Dot follower : ORG

The .org domain was one of the six original generic top-level domains specified. The complete original list is:

  • .com (commercial enterprise)
  • .net (entity involved in network infrastructure e.g. an ISP)
  • .mil (US military)
  • .org (not-for-profit organization)
  • .gov (US federal government entity)
  • .edu (college-level educational institution)

23. Paintball mementos : WELTS

The “paint” in paintball isn’t actually paint, but rather a mix of gelatin and food coloring.

24. Citizenship promise : OATH

The current text of the Oath of Allegiance reads:

I hereby declare, “on oath”(or “and solemnly affirm”), that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

The last four words are optional.

29. Sherlock’s adversary Adler : IRENE

The character Irene Adler only appears in one of the many Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the story “A Scandal in Bohemia”, Holmes expresses remarkable admiration for Adler as a woman and as a foe. As a result, derivative works in the Holmes genre often feature Adler as something of a romantic interest for Sherlock.

33. Lighting event? : AHA MOMENT

I seem to be having more dimming events lately …

34. Angled cut : BEVEL

A beveled edged is like a chamfered edge. The edge of a mirror is often beveled, meaning that it is cut at an angle that isn’t perpendicular to the mirror’s surface.

35. Super __ : PAC

A political action committee (PAC) is a private group that works to influence the outcome of a particular election or group of elections. Any group becomes a PAC by law when it receives or spends more than $1,000 for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that PACS that did not make direct contributions to candidates or parties could accept unlimited contributions. These “independent, expenditure-only committees” are commonly referred to as “super PACs”.

36. Browser bookmark : URL

Internet addresses (like NYTCrossword.com and LAXCrossword.com) are more correctly called Uniform Resource Locators (URLs).

37. Blockbuster : SMASH HIT

During WWII, a “blockbuster” was a large bomb, one capable of blowing up a city block. The term migrated into the world of entertainment in the late fifties, describing a particularly successful movie or show.

38. “Auld Scotland wants __ skinking ware”: Burns : NAE

Scottish poet Robbie Burns is today very much associated with the national dish known as haggis, largely because of his poem “Address to a Haggis”. The poem is recited at what is known as a Burns supper, which is held annually to celebrate the poet’s life. The last lines of “Address to a Haggis” are:

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis
which can be written as:

Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!

39. Passport endorsement : VISA

A visa is a usually a stamp in one’s passport, and an indication that one is authorized to enter (and less often, to exit) a particular country. The word “visa” comes into English, via French, from the Latin expression “charta visa” meaning “paper that has been seen”, or “verified paper”.

43. Tech boss : CIO

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

44. Big name in taking it easy : LA-Z-BOY

La-Z-Boy is a furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan. Although the company makes furniture for every room in the house, it is famous for its recliner chairs found in family rooms all over the country.

46. Super Bowl 50 champ : BRONCO

The Denver Broncos were a charter member of the AFL and so were formed in 1959 and first played in 1960. The Broncos won the Super Bowl twice, in the consecutive seasons of 1997 and 1998.

47. Lean dangerously : CAREEN

The term “careen” dates back to 1590 when it meant “to turn a ship on its side, exposing the keel”. The word evolved from the Middle French word “carene” meaning “keel”. Our modern usage, meaning to lean or tilt, only dates back as far as the 1880s. Careen should not be confused with “career”, a verb meaning to move rapidly. One has to “career” from side-to-side in order to “careen”.

51. Bannister, for one : MILER

The 4-minute barrier for the mile run was first broken in 1954 by Roger Bannister, when he finished in just over 3m 59s. The record for males now stands at 3m 43s. If you plan on running a 4-minute mile, you should probably be warned that this means you have to run the whole race at an average speed of over 15 mph (do the math!).

54. “Law and Order: CI” actress Kathryn : ERBE

The actress Kathryn Erbe is best known for playing Det. Alexandra Eames on the TV show “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”. Paradoxically perhaps, Erbe’s other noted role is Shirley Bellinger in the HBO series “Oz”, in which she plays a death row inmate.

59. Payroll service co. : ADP

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is an enterprise based in Roseland, New Jersey that provides business services to companies.

60. 21-spot item, typically : DIE

The numbers on dice are arranged so that the opposite faces add up to seven. Given this arrangement, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 all meet at a common vertex. There are two ways of arranging the 1, 2 and 3 around the common vertex, a so called right-handed die (clockwise 1-2-3) or a left-handed die (counterclockwise 1-2-3). Traditionally, dice used in Western cultures are right-handed, whereas Chinese dice are left-handed. Quite interesting …

Advertisement

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1. Complies with a “Star Trek” order : MAKES IT SO
10. Larkish? : HAPPY
15. Field reporter’s signoff : OVER TO YOU
16. Stan’s partner : OLLIE
17. Inspiration for many pop songs : TEEN ANGST
18. Period of time : SPELL
19. 120 dozen? : TENS
20. “I Miss You” (1994) R&B singer : AARON HALL
22. Ring combination : ONE-TWO
25. “Carmen” parts : ARIAS
26. Gun offspring? : SON
27. Giving relief to : EASING
30. “Growing Up in New Guinea” author : MEAD
33. Let out, say : ALTER
34. In the worst way : BADLY
35. Stretch limits : PUSH THE ENVELOPE
40. Two-time A.L. HR leader Tony : ARMAS
41. Wide-eyed : NAIVE
42. Razor __ : CLAM
43. Monty Python co-founder : CLEESE
45. “Doctor Who” airer : BBC
48. Eastern European capital : SOFIA
50. Small ’90s-’00s Nissan : ALMERA
52. Worked the room : SCHMOOZED
56. Inventor Sikorsky : IGOR
57. “Politically Incorrect” host : MAHER
58. Great Depression symbol : BREADLINE
61. Putting to work : USING
62. Dog school focus : OBEDIENCE
63. Bug : GET TO
64. Sycophant : YES-PERSON

Down

1. Guiding principles : MOTTOS
2. Johnson & Johnson brand : AVEENO
3. Wayans family member : KEENEN
4. “Trophy, Hypertrophied” artist : ERNST
5. Stop: Abbr. : STA
6. It’s charged : ION
7. “Rack City” rapper : TYGA
8. McGwire rival : SOSA
9. Left in the dust : OUTRAN
10. President after Anwar : HOSNI
11. Top dog : ALPHA MALE
12. “I would like that!” : PLEASE DO!
13. Difficult sort : PILL
14. Scream : YELL
21. Dot follower : ORG
23. Paintball mementos : WELTS
24. Citizenship promise : OATH
28. Understand : SEE
29. Sherlock’s adversary Adler : IRENE
31. Lofty peak : ALP
32. Tint : DYE
33. Lighting event? : AHA MOMENT
34. Angled cut : BEVEL
35. Super __ : PAC
36. Browser bookmark : URL
37. Blockbuster : SMASH HIT
38. “Auld Scotland wants __ skinking ware”: Burns : NAE
39. Passport endorsement : VISA
43. Tech boss : CIO
44. Big name in taking it easy : LA-Z-BOY
45. Kicks off : BEGINS
46. Super Bowl 50 champ : BRONCO
47. Lean dangerously : CAREEN
49. Waive : FORGO
51. Bannister, for one : MILER
52. Self-satisfied : SMUG
53. Trophy holder : CASE
54. “Law and Order: CI” actress Kathryn : ERBE
55. They leave a lot of room for improvement : DEES
59. Payroll service co. : ADP
60. 21-spot item, typically : DIE

Advertisement