LA Times Crossword 13 Feb 21, Saturday

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Constructed by: Adrian Johnson & Jeff Chen
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Theme: None

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 10m 30s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Where to find an OR : US MAP

The Oregon Treaty of 1846 settled a dispute between the US and the UK over sovereignty of the Oregon Country. “The Oregon Country” was the name given by the Americans to a large swathe of land west of the Rocky Mountains. That same disputed land was known as the Columbia Department by the British. Oregon became a US state in 1859.

6 “The Magic School Bus” network : PBS

“The Magic School Bus” is a children’s cartoon show that originally aired on PBS in the nineties. The show was based on a series of books of the same name by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen.

9 Retro finish : SEPIA

Sepia is that rich, brown-grey color so common in old photographs. “Sepia” is the Latinized version of the Greek word for cuttlefish, as sepia pigment is derived from the ink sac of the cuttlefish. Sepia ink was commonly used for writing and drawing as far back as ancient Rome and ancient Greece. The “sepia tone” of old photographs is not the result of deterioration over time. Rather, it is the result of a deliberate preservation process which converts the metallic silver in the photographic image to a more stable silver sulfide. Prints that have been sepia-toned can last in excess of 150 years.

14 Implement associated with its own age : STONE TOOL

Ancient societies can be classified by the “three-age system”, which depends on the prevalence of materials used to make tools. The three ages are:

  • The Stone Age
  • The Bronze Age
  • The Iron Age

The actual dates defined by each age depend on the society, as the timing of the transition from the use of one material to another varied around the globe.

16 Impulse conductors : AXONS

A nerve cell is more correctly called a neuron. The branched projections that receive electrochemical signals from other neurons are known as dendrites. The long nerve fiber that conducts signals away from the neuron is known as the axon. A neuron that has no definite axon is referred to as “apolar” or “nonpolar”. In apolar neurons the nerve impulses radiate in all directions.

20 Lacto-__ vegetarian : OVO

A lacto-ovo vegetarian is someone who does not consume meat or fish, but who does eat eggs (ovo) and dairy (lacto) products.

22 Prince __ Khan : ALY

Aly Khan was a familiar name used by the media when referring to Prince Ali Solomone Aga Khan, the Pakistani ambassador to the UN from 1958 to 1960. Khan made it into the papers a lot as he was the third husband of actress Rita Hayworth.

23 Austin festival, briefly : SXSW

South by Southwest, also known as “SXSW”, is an annual festival that has been taking place in Austin, Texas since 1987. SXSW is a melded event, combining a music festival, a film festival and an interactive festival.

25 Sushi bar order : AHI

Yellowfin and bigeye tuna are usually marketed as “ahi”, the Hawaiian name. They are both big fish, with yellowfish tuna often weighing over 300 pounds, and bigeye tuna getting up to 400 pounds.

26 Consort of Shiva : KALI

Kali is a Hindu goddess and the consort of Lord Shiva. The name “Kali” translates as “the black one”.

28 Diwali garment : SARI

Diwali is a popular Hindu festival. It is a “festival of lights”, a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is observed annually over five days at the conclusion of the summer harvest, and when there is a new moon.

34 Stellar spectacles : NOVAS

A nova (plural “novae”) is basically a star that suddenly gets much brighter, gradually returning to its original state weeks or even years later. The increased brightness of a nova is due to increased nuclear activity causing the star to pick up extra hydrogen from a neighboring celestial body. A supernova is very different from a nova. A supernova is a very bright burst of light and energy created when most of the material in a star explodes. The bright burst of a supernova is very short-lived compared to the sustained brightness of a nova.

37 Cause of a faux pas, perhaps : LAPSE IN JUDGMENT

The term “faux pas” is French in origin, and translates literally as “false step” (or “false steps”, as the plural has the same spelling in French).

39 Singer Adkins known by her first name : ADELE

“Adele” is the stage name of English singer Adele Adkins. Adele’s debut album is “19”, named after the age she was during the album’s production. Her second album was even more successful than the first. Called “21”, the second album was released three years after the first, when Adele was three years older. Her third studio album “25”, released in 2015, broke the first-week sales records in both the UK and the US.

40 Draft portmanteau : KEGERATOR

A kegerator is a refrigerator used to store and serve chilled draft beer. The term “kegerator” is a portmanteau of “keg” and “refrigerator”.

41 Parks of Alabama : ROSA

Rosa Parks was one of a few brave women in days gone by who refused to give up their seats on a bus to white women. It was the stand taken by Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955 that sparked the Montgomery, Alabama Bus Boycott. President Clinton presented Ms. Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996. When she died in 2005, Rosa Parks became the first ever woman to have her body lie in honor in the US Capitol Rotunda.

43 __ slicker : CITY

A city slicker is a person accustomed to an urban lifestyle, and who is particularly unsuited for life in a rural setting. When the term was coined, it was used somewhat derisively by rural Americans. However, that implication seems to have softened somewhat over the years.

47 Riga resident : LETT

Latvia is one of the former Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs). People from Latvia are called Letts.

49 “Henry & June” diarist : NIN

“Henry and June” is a 1986 book that is based on unpublished diaries of author Anaïs Nin. The book was commissioned by Nin’s husband Rupert Pole, almost a decade after Nin’s passing. “Henry and June” focuses on the passionate relationship that Nin had with writer Henry Miller’s wife June, and later with Henry Miller himself. The 1990 film “Henry & June” is based on the book, and stars Fred Ward and Uma Thruman in the title roles, and Maria de Medeiros as Nin.

52 Chi preceder : TAI …

More correctly called “t‘ai chi ch‘uan”, tai chi is a martial art that is mostly practiced to improve overall health and increase longevity.

56 Seatbelt campaign slogan : CLICK IT OR TICKET

The national “Click It or Ticket” campaign started at the state level in 1993, when it was introduced in North Carolina. New York was the first state to introduce a mandatory seat belt use law, back in 1984. There is only one state in the US that does not require drivers to wear seat belts by law, and that is New Hampshire.

59 Variety show : REVUE

“Revue” is the French word for “review”.

62 Org. concerned with secrets : NSA

National Security Agency (NSA)

63 Sculptor’s subject : TORSO

“Torso” (plural “torsi”) is an Italian word meaning the “trunk of a statue”, and is a term that we imported into English.

Down

1 Org. with red, white and blue trucks : USPS

The US Postal Service (USPS) is a remarkable agency in many ways. For starters, the government’s right and responsibility to establish the Post Office is specifically called out in Article One of the US constitution. Also, the first postmaster general was none other than Benjamin Franklin. And, the USPS operates over 200,000 vehicles, which is the largest vehicle fleet in the world.

4 Not sitting well? : ANTSY

The word “antsy” embodies the concept of “having ants in one’s pants”, meaning being nervous and fidgety. However, “antsy” has been used in English since the 1830s, whereas “ants in the pants” originated a century later.

5 Wave generator? : PERM

“Perm” is the common name given to a permanent wave, a chemical or thermal treatment of hair to produce waves or curls.

6 Hawaiian fare : POI

I am a big fan of starch (being an Irishman I love potatoes). That said, I think that poi tastes horrible! Poi is made from the bulbous tubers (corm) of the taro plant by cooking the corm in water and mashing it until the desired consistency is achieved.

7 What might cause you to forget your lines? : BOTOX INJECTIONS

Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is a protein that can cause botulism, an extremely dangerous illness in humans and animals. Botulinum toxin is sold under the trade name “Botox”. Botox is used therapeutically and in cosmetic applications to weaken muscles, perhaps muscles that are in an uncontrollable spasm. The cosmetic application involves the paralyzing of facial muscles in order to eliminate or reduce wrinkles, at least for a few months.

8 Some Eastern Europeans : SLAVS

The Slavic peoples are in the majority in communities covering over half of Europe. This large ethnic group is traditionally broken down into three smaller groups:

  • the West Slavic (including Czechs and Poles)
  • the East Slavic (including Russians and Ukrainians)
  • the South Slavic (including Bulgarians, Croats and Serbs)

15 Univ. helpers : TAS

Teaching assistant (TA)

25 __ breve : ALLA

The musical term “alla breve”, meaning “at the breve (i.e. the note)”, denotes a meter equivalent to 2/2. This implies quite a fast tempo, one often found in military marches. 2/2 is also known as “cut time”.

26 Jeans parts : KNEES

Denim fabric originated in Nimes in France. The French phrase “de Nimes” (meaning “from Nimes”) gives us the word “denim”. Also, the French phrase “bleu de Genes” (meaning “blue of Genoa”) gives us our word “jeans”.

27 Radio host Shapiro : ARI

Ari Shapiro served very ably as White House correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR) for several years. He then became a co-host of network’s drive-time program “All Things Considered” in 2015. When he’s not working, Shapiro likes to sing. He regularly appears as a guest singer with the group Pink Martini, and has appeared on several of the band’s albums.

30 Oblong tomato : ROMA

The Roma tomato isn’t considered an heirloom variety but it is very popular with home gardeners, especially those gardeners that don’t have a lot of space. It is a bush type (as opposed to vine type) and needs very little room to provide a lot of tomatoes.

32 1952 Winter Olympics host : OSLO

The 1952 Winter Olympic Games took place in Oslo, Norway. One of the firsts at the 1952 games was the first use of a purpose-built athletes’ village. The 1952 Games also marked the return of Japan and Germany to the Olympic family after being excluded from the 1948 games following WWII.

36 They’re usually toward the front of an orch. : STRS

An orchestra (orch.) has a string (str.) section.

38 “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” title: Abbr. : DET

Detective (det.)

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is a sitcom set in the 99th precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn. Star of the show is “Saturday Night Live” alum Andy Samberg, who plays Detective Jake Peralta.

42 Some choir members : ALTI

In choral music, an alto (plural “alti”) is the second-highest voice in a four-part chorus made up of soprano, contr(alto), tenor and bass. The word “alto” describes the vocal range, that of the deepest female singing-voice, whereas the term “contralto” describes more than just the alto range, but also its quality and timbre. An adult male’s voice (not a boy’s) with the same range as an alto is called a “countertenor”.

45 Stravinsky’s “Le __ du printemps” : SACRE

“The Rite of Spring” (“Le Sacre du Printemps” in French) is a ballet and orchestral work by Igor Stravinsky. The ballet premiered in Paris in 1913 and was received very, very poorly as the music and dancing was quite avant-garde. Since then, “The Rite of Spring” has become an extremely influential work, but to be honest, it’s not a favorite of mine …

Composer Igor Stravinsky’s most famous works were completed relatively early in his career, when he was quite young. His three ballets “The Firebird”, “Petrushka” and “The Rite of Spring” were published in 1910-1913, when Stravinsky was in his early thirties.

46 Talk show host who voices the adult Dory in “Finding Dory” : ELLEN

Ellen DeGeneres is a very, very successful TV personality, having parlayed her career in stand-up comedy into lucrative gigs as an actress and talk show host. Back in 1997 DeGeneres chose the “Oprah Winfrey Show” to announce that she was a lesbian. Her character on “The Ellen Show” also came out as a lesbian in a scene with her therapist, who was played by Oprah Winfrey. Nice twist!

Pixar’s 2016 animated feature “Finding Dory” is a sequel to the megahit film “Finding Nemo”. “Finding Dory” seems to have built on the success of its predecessor and had the highest-grossing opening weekend ever in North America for an animated movie.

48 Eschew the diner, maybe : EAT IN

“To eschew”, meaning “to avoid, shun”, comes from the Old French word “eschiver” that means the same thing.

49 Wafer giant : NECCO

Necco Wafers were the best-known product line of the candy manufacturer called the New England Confectionery Company. The firm’s name was abbreviated to “NECCO”, an acronym that became synonymous with the wafers.

53 Nebraska native : OTO

Nebraska gets its name from the Platte River which flows through the state. “Nebraska” is an anglicized version of Otoe and Omaha words meaning “flat water”.

54 Pub order : PINT

A US pint comprises 16 fluid ounces, and an imperial pint is 20 fluid ounces. The term “pint” comes into English via Old French, ultimately from the Latin “picta” meaning “painted”. The name arose from a line painted on the side of a beer glass that marked a full measure of ale.

55 Gustav Mahler’s composer brother : OTTO

Otto Mahler was the twelfth child of Bernard and Marie Mahler, and a younger brother of the composer Gustav Mahler. Otto was also a talented musician and composer, and while only 20 years of age was the choirmaster and second conductor of the Leipzig Opera. Sadly, Otto committed suicide by shooting himself, in 1895 when just 21 years old.

58 Red Seal record label company : RCA

RCA Red Seal Records is a classical musical label that was founded in 1902 in the UK. Famously, Enrico Caruso recorded with Red Label, raising its profile and greatly contributing to its success.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Where to find an OR : US MAP
6 “The Magic School Bus” network : PBS
9 Retro finish : SEPIA
14 Implement associated with its own age : STONE TOOL
16 Impulse conductors : AXONS
17 They may work on profiles : PORTRAIT ARTISTS
19 Jerks that surprise you : SPASMS
20 Lacto-__ vegetarian : OVO
21 Fade : TIRE
22 Prince __ Khan : ALY
23 Austin festival, briefly : SXSW
24 Recent delivery : TOT
25 Sushi bar order : AHI
26 Consort of Shiva : KALI
28 Diwali garment : SARI
31 Strip often twisted : LEMON RIND
34 Stellar spectacles : NOVAS
37 Cause of a faux pas, perhaps : LAPSE IN JUDGMENT
39 Singer Adkins known by her first name : ADELE
40 Draft portmanteau : KEGERATOR
41 Parks of Alabama : ROSA
43 __ slicker : CITY
44 Possessive pronoun : HIS
45 Body with arms, usually : SEA
47 Riga resident : LETT
49 “Henry & June” diarist : NIN
50 Additional characters, in gamerspeak : ALTS
52 Chi preceder : TAI …
53 Would consider, after “is” : … OPEN TO
56 Seatbelt campaign slogan : CLICK IT OR TICKET
59 Variety show : REVUE
60 Together : IN CONCERT
61 Hostile force : ENEMY
62 Org. concerned with secrets : NSA
63 Sculptor’s subject : TORSO

Down

1 Org. with red, white and blue trucks : USPS
2 Pre-sign sign : STOP AHEAD
3 Acting incentive : MORAL IMPERATIVE
4 Not sitting well? : ANTSY
5 Wave generator? : PERM
6 Hawaiian fare : POI
7 What might cause you to forget your lines? : BOTOX INJECTIONS
8 Some Eastern Europeans : SLAVS
9 Couldn’t stand, maybe : SAT
10 Turnoff : EXIT
11 One who’s typically up : POSITIVE THINKER
12 Opener : INTRO
13 It can be fixed : ASSET
15 Univ. helpers : TAS
18 Tiffs : ROWS
23 Move like a cat burglar : SLINK
25 __ breve : ALLA
26 Jeans parts : KNEES
27 Radio host Shapiro : ARI
29 Sore : ANGRY
30 Oblong tomato : ROMA
32 1952 Winter Olympics host : OSLO
33 Really liked something, man : DUG IT
35 Priests, at times : ANOINTERS
36 They’re usually toward the front of an orch. : STRS
38 “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” title: Abbr. : DET
42 Some choir members : ALTI
45 Stravinsky’s “Le __ du printemps” : SACRE
46 Talk show host who voices the adult Dory in “Finding Dory” : ELLEN
48 Eschew the diner, maybe : EAT IN
49 Wafer giant : NECCO
51 Foul film : SCUM
53 Nebraska native : OTO
54 Pub order : PINT
55 Gustav Mahler’s composer brother : OTTO
57 Decoding need : KEY
58 Red Seal record label company : RCA