LA Times Crossword 22 Oct 19, Tuesday

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Constructed by: Paul Coulter
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Reveal Answer: Opening Day

Themed answers each comprise two words, both of which can be preceded by “DAY”:

  • 63A Start of a sports season, and what each half of 17-, 28-, 39- and 48-Across can have : OPENING DAY
  • 17A Classroom text : SCHOOL BOOK (day school & daybook)
  • 28A Twinkling in the night sky : STARLIGHT (daystar & daylight)
  • 39A Relief from the daily grind : TIME OFF (daytime & day off)
  • 48A Office spot with a coffee pot : BREAKROOM (daybreak & day room)

Bill’s time: 6m 46s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Barbecue glowers : COALS

It is believed that our word “barbecue” (BBQ) comes from the Taíno people of the Caribbean in whose language “barbacoa” means “sacred fire pit”.

6 Priestly robes : ALBS

An alb is a white, neck-to-toe vestment worn by priests, usually with a rope cord around the waist. The term alb comes from “albus”, the Latin word for “white”.

15 Java neighbor : BALI

Bali is both an island and a province in Indonesia. It is a popular tourist spot, although the number of visitors dropped for a few years as a result of terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005 that killed mainly tourists. Bali became more popular starting in 2008 due to a significant and favorable change in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Indonesian rupiah.

Java is a large island in Indonesia that is home to the country’s capital, Jakarta. With a population of over 130 million, Java is the most populous island in the world, with even more people than Honshu, the main island of Japan.

16 Former Iranian ruler : SHAH

The last Shah of Iran was Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. The post-revolution government sought the extradition of the Shah back to Iran while he was in the United States seeking medical care (he had cancer). His prolonged stay in the United States, recovering from surgery, caused some unrest back in Iran and resentment towards the United States. Some say that this resentment precipitated the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran and the resulting hostage crisis.

19 Deep sleep : COMA

Our term “coma” comes from the Greek “koma” meaning “deep sleep”.

24 Summer on the Riviera : ETE

In French, “été” (summer) is “la saison chaude” (the warm season).

“Riviera” is an Italian word meaning “coastline”. The term is often applied to a coastline that is sunny and popular with tourists. The term “the Riviera” is usually reserved for the French Riviera (the Mediterranean coastline in southeastern France), and the Italian Riviera (the Mediterranean coastline centered on Genoa).

25 MLB Network analyst Martinez : PEDRO

Pedro Martínez is a retired baseball pitcher from the Dominican Republic. Martinez won the Cy Young Award three times, and was on the Boston Red Sox team that won the 2004 World Series.

28 Twinkling in the night sky : STARLIGHT (daystar & daylight)

A morning star (also “daystar”) is a bright planet that is visible in the brightening sky at sunrise or just before.

36 Lupino of “High Sierra” : IDA

Actress Ida Lupino was also a successful director, in the days when women weren’t very welcome behind the camera. She had already directed four “women’s” shorts when she stepped in to direct the 1953 drama “The Hitch-Hiker”, taking over when the original director became ill. “The Hitch-Hiker” was the first film noir movie to be directed by a woman, and somewhat of a breakthrough for women in the industry.

“High Sierra” is a 1941 movie based on a novel by W.R. Burnett. It’s a gangster piece, starring Humphrey Bogart as Roy “Mad Dog” Earle, a bad guy with a heart. Bogie’s love interest is played by the very talented Ida Lupino.

37 Bird’s crop : CRAW

“Craw” is another name for “crop”, a portion of the alimentary tract of some animals, including birds. The crop is used for the storage of food prior to digestion. It allows the animal to eat large amounts and then digest that food with efficiency over an extended period. The expression “to stick in one’s craw” is used when one cannot accept something, cannot “swallow” it.

38 Colorado native : UTE

The Ute are a group of Native American tribes who now reside in Utah and Colorado. The Ute were not a unified people as such, but rather a loose association of nomadic groups. The word “Ute” means “Land of the Sun”, and “Ute” also gave us the state name “Utah”.

42 “__ Am”: Alicia Keys album : AS I

“Alicia Keys” is the stage name of Alicia Cook, an R&B and soul singer from Hell’s Kitchen in New York City.

45 Sinus doc : ENT

The branch of medicine known as “ear, nose and throat” (ENT) is more correctly called “otolaryngology”.

In anatomical terms, a sinus is a cavity in tissue. Sinuses are found all over the body, in the kidney and heart for example, but we most commonly think of the paranasal sinuses that surround the nose.

67 Trait carrier : GENE

Genetic variation is a fundamental behind the process of natural selection. Genetic variation is the result of mutations occurring in genes. If a mutation results in an individual that is more fit for survival, then the principle of “survival of the fittest” makes is more likely that the individual will mate. The mutation can then be passed onto offspring.

68 Mozart’s “Così fan __” : TUTTE

Mozart’s comic opera “Così fan tutte” is also known in English as “The School for Lovers”. The literal translation of the opera’s Italian title is “Thus do all (women)”, or “Women are like that”.

69 Spill the beans : TELL

To spill the beans is to divulge a secret. The expression first appeared in American English, in the early 1900s. The phrase arose as an alternative to “spoil the beans” or “upset the applecart”. The similarly meaning phrase “spill the tea” is more prevalent on the other side of the Atlantic.

70 Taiwanese PC maker : ACER

Acer is a Taiwanese company that I visited a couple of times when I was in the electronics business. I was very impressed back then with the company’s dedication to quality, although I have heard that things haven’t gone so well in recent years …

71 Most common roll of two dice : SEVEN

When rolling two dice, there are 36 possible outcomes. There are six outcomes that add up to seven (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1), making seven the most probable total thrown. The least probable totals are two (1,1) and twelve (6,6).

Down

1 Prefix with gender : CIS-

The term “cisgender” is now used as the opposite of “transgender”. Cisgender people have a gender identity that matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

2 How software was once sold : ON CD

The compact disc (CD) was developed jointly by Philips and Sony as a medium for storing and playing sound recordings. When the first commercial CD was introduced back in 1982, a CD’s storage capacity was far greater than the amount of data that could be stored on the hard drive of personal computers available at that time.

3 Queens tennis stadium : ASHE

Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York opened in 1997 and for years was the largest outdoor, tennis-only venue in the world. The stadium was often criticized for not having a retractable dome to protect the playing surface from inclement weather. Well, that changed in 2016 when the stadium debuted its new retractable roof, a $150 million investment in the facility.

4 Johnny’s “The Big Bang Theory” role : LEONARD

Actor Johnny Galecki is best known for playing Leonard Hofstadter on the hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”. His first big TV role was David Healy, Darlene Connor’s boyfriend, on the sitcom “Roseanne”. Galecki was born in Belgium, while his father was stationed there with the US Air Force. Galeckie date his “Big Bang” co-star Kaley Cuoco for a couple of years.

“The Big Bang Theory” is very clever sitcom that first aired in 2007. “The Big Bang Theory” theme song was specially commissioned for the show, and was composed and sung by Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. The theme song was released in 2007 as a single and is featured on a Barenaked Ladies greatest hits album.

6 Convent leader : ABBESS

Convents have been religious houses since the 1200s, but it wasn’t until the 1700s that convents became purely female institutions.

7 Language of Southeast Asia : LAO

Lao is the official language of Laos. Lao is also spoken in the northeast of Thailand, but there the language is known as Isan.

9 Many a Punjabi : SIKH

Sikhism is a religion that was founded in the Punjab region, which straddles the India-Pakistan border. Even though Sikhism was established relatively recently, it is now the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. Sikhism was founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak.

10 One leading a Spartan lifestyle : ASCETIC

Sparta was a city-state in ancient Greece that was 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.

13 Roe source : SHAD

The shad is also known as the river herring. The eggs (roe) of the shad are prized as a delicacy in the Eastern US.

18 Inc., in the U.K. : LTD

In Britain and Ireland the most common type of business (my perception anyway) is one that has private shareholders whose liability is limited to the value of their investment. Such a company is known as a private limited company, and has the letters “Ltd” after the name. If the shares are publicly traded, then the company is a public limited company, and has the letters “plc” after the name.

25 __ bob: vertical measuring tool : PLUMB

To plummet is to plunge downwards. The verb comes from the noun “plummet”, which is an alternative name for a plumb bob. A plumb bob is a weight that is suspended from a string so as to provide a vertical reference line.

27 Gas at a truck stop : DIESEL FUEL

There are two main types of internal combustion engine. Most cars in the US use spark injection engines (gasoline engines) in which a spark plug sparks in order to ignite the fuel-air mixture. A diesel engine, on the other hand, has no spark plug per se, and uses the heat generated by compressing the air-fuel mixture to cause ignition.

35 Jetty : PIER

A jetty is a pier that juts out into a body of water. “Jetty” derives from the French verb “jeter” meaning “to throw”, the idea being that a jetty is a structure that is “thrown” out past the edge of the land surrounding the body of water.

41 Insects with a painful sting : FIRE ANTS

Fire ants are stinging ants, and many species are known as “red ants”. Most stinging ants bite their prey and then spray acid on the wound. The fire ant, however, bites to hold on and then injects an alkaloid venom from its abdomen, creating a burning sensation in humans who have been nipped.

49 Hawaii’s Mauna __ : KEA

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, the peak of which is the highest point in the whole state. Mauna Kea is in effect the tip of a gigantic volcano rising up from the seabed.

54 Camping gear brand : REI

REI is a sporting goods store, with the initialism standing for Recreational Equipment Inc. REI was founded in Seattle by Lloyd and Mary Anderson in 1938 as a cooperative that supplies quality climbing gear to outdoor enthusiasts. The first full-time employee hired by the Andersons was Jim Whittaker, who was the first American to climb Mount Everest.

56 Mystery writer Gardner : ERLE

I must have read all of the “Perry Mason” books when I was in college. I think they kept me sane when I was facing the pressure of exams. Author Erle Stanley Gardner was himself a lawyer, although he didn’t get into the profession the easy way. Gardner went to law school, but got himself suspended after a month. So, he became a self-taught attorney and opened his own law office in Merced, California. Understandably perhaps, Gardner gave up the law once his novels became successful.

57 Tranquil exercise : YOGA

In the West we tend to think of yoga as a physical discipline, a means of exercise that uses specific poses to stretch and strengthen muscles. While it is true that the ancient Indian practice of yoga does involve such physical discipline, the corporeal aspect of the practice plays a relatively small part in the whole philosophy. Other major components are meditation, ethical behavior, breathing and contemplation.

60 1999 Ron Howard film : EDTV

“EDtv” is a comedy film directed by Ron Howard starring Matthew McConaughey that was released in 1999. The plot has a “Big Brother” feel to it, as it is about a TV show broadcasting someone’s life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

65 Japanese money : YEN

The Korean Won, the Chinese Yuan, and the Japanese Yen (all of which are Asian currencies) take their names from the Chinese written character that represents “round shape”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Barbecue glowers : COALS
6 Priestly robes : ALBS
10 Cobblers’ tools : AWLS
14 Neighborhood map on a city map, e.g. : INSET
15 Java neighbor : BALI
16 Former Iranian ruler : SHAH
17 Classroom text : SCHOOL BOOK (day school & daybook)
19 Deep sleep : COMA
20 Represent : DENOTE
21 Like a bike : WHEELED
23 Goes on to say : ADDS
24 Summer on the Riviera : ETE
25 MLB Network analyst Martinez : PEDRO
28 Twinkling in the night sky : STARLIGHT (daystar & daylight)
34 On bed rest, say : LAID UP
36 Lupino of “High Sierra” : IDA
37 Bird’s crop : CRAW
38 Colorado native : UTE
39 Relief from the daily grind : TIME OFF (daytime & day off)
42 “__ Am”: Alicia Keys album : AS I
43 Screen material : MESH
45 Sinus doc : ENT
46 Growing weary : TIRING
48 Office spot with a coffee pot : BREAKROOM (daybreak & day room)
51 Landlord’s income : RENTS
52 Tell tall tales : LIE
53 Field of study : AREA
55 Pays some of : DEFRAYS
59 Closed in on : NEARED
62 Cut __: dance, in old slang : A RUG
63 Start of a sports season, and what each half of 17-, 28-, 39- and 48-Across can have : OPENING DAY
66 Hightail it : FLEE
67 Trait carrier : GENE
68 Mozart’s “Così fan __” : TUTTE
69 Spill the beans : TELL
70 Taiwanese PC maker : ACER
71 Most common roll of two dice : SEVEN

Down

1 Prefix with gender : CIS-
2 How software was once sold : ON CD
3 Queens tennis stadium : ASHE
4 Johnny’s “The Big Bang Theory” role : LEONARD
5 Was conspicuous : STOOD OUT
6 Convent leader : ABBESS
7 Language of Southeast Asia : LAO
8 Hard punch : BLOW
9 Many a Punjabi : SIKH
10 One leading a Spartan lifestyle : ASCETIC
11 Healthy bread type : WHOLE GRAIN
12 Like a weak excuse : LAME
13 Roe source : SHAD
18 Inc., in the U.K. : LTD
22 Slender aquarium swimmer : EEL
25 __ bob: vertical measuring tool : PLUMB
26 Diner : EATER
27 Gas at a truck stop : DIESEL FUEL
29 Connect with : TIE TO
30 Big deal : ADO
31 Whitewater ride : RAFT
32 “Who __?!”: “Join the club!” : HASN’T
33 Small sticks : TWIGS
35 Jetty : PIER
40 6, on a cellphone keypad : MNO
41 Insects with a painful sting : FIRE ANTS
44 Stylist’s supply : HAIR GEL
47 Debate again : RE-ARGUE
49 Hawaii’s Mauna __ : KEA
50 Style : MANNER
54 Camping gear brand : REI
55 Inane : DAFT
56 Mystery writer Gardner : ERLE
57 Tranquil exercise : YOGA
58 On __: without a contract : SPEC
60 1999 Ron Howard film : EDTV
61 Go out with : DATE
64 WSW’s opposite : ENE
65 Japanese money : YEN