LA Times Crossword 26 Jun 21, Saturday

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Constructed by: Matthew Sewell
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Theme: None

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

Bill’s time: 10m 03s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 DIY creators of under-the-skin data storage devices : BIOHACKERS

The term “biohacking” was coined to describe amateurs engaged in biological experimentation. The term is quite broad, and can cover anything from genome editing in bugs to experimenting with one’s own diet to enhance the body’s performance.

11 Home of the NCAA’s Mountaineers : WVA

West Virginia University (WVU) was founded in 1867 as the Agricultural College of West Virginia. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Mountaineers.

18 Loan app fig. : SSN

Social Security number (SSN)

19 Quick tennis match : ONE SET

Our modern sport of tennis evolved from the much older racquet sport known as real tennis. Originally just called “tennis”, the older game was labeled “real tennis” when the modern version began to hold sway. Real tennis is played in a closed court, with the ball frequently bounced off the walls.

20 Adjective evoking past times : OLDE

The word “olde” wasn’t actually used much earlier than the 1920s. “Olde” was introduced to give a quaint antique feel to brand names, shop names etc. as in “Ye Olde Shoppe”.

21 Tolkien creature : ORC

According to Tolkien, Orcs are small humanoids that live in his fantasy world of Middle-earth (also called “Mordor”). They are very ugly and dirty, and are fond of eating human flesh.

22 __ Beach: Fla. recreation spot : ST PETE

Saint Petersburg, Florida is often referred to as St. Pete by locals and visitors alike. The neighboring city of Saint Petersburg Beach also had its name shortened routinely, so in 1994 the residents voted to change the name officially to St. Pete Beach.

27 Tree of Madagascar : BAOBAB

“Baobab” is the common name for an Adansonia tree, most species of which are native to Madagascar. The name Adansonia was given in honor of the French naturalist and explorer Michel Adanson.

Madagascar is a large island nation lying off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The main island of Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world (after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo).

30 Fast cash venues : PAWN SHOPS

I remember the bad old days growing up in Dublin, Ireland, when my mother had to go to the pawnshop (bad times!). I’d wait outside with my brother, looking up at the pawnbroker’s sign, three gold balls hanging down from a metal bar. This traditional sign used by pawnbrokers is said to date back to the Medici family as the sign had symbolic meaning in the province of Lombardy where the Medici family reigned supreme. Because of this connection, pawnshop banking was originally called Lombard banking.

38 Thinking of stealing, maybe : ON BASE

That would be baseball.

44 Hindu royal : RANI

A ranee (also “rani”) is an Indian queen or princess, and the female equivalent of a raja.

52 Goddess of Ellis Island? : ISIS

Isis was the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, as well as the protector of the dead and the goddess of children. She was the personification of the pharaoh’s power. The name “Isis” translates as “throne”, and she is usually depicted with a headdress shaped like a throne.

The name of the goddess “Isis” is found inside the phrase “Ellis Island”.

55 Radio host John : TESH

John Tesh is a pianist and composer, as well as a radio and television presenter. For many years Tesh presented the show “Entertainment Tonight”. For “ET” he once covered the filming of an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. As part of the piece, he volunteered to act as a Klingon warrior. If you see the “Star Trek: TNG” episode called “The Icarus Factor” in reruns, watch out for John Tesh engaging in ritual torture with Mr. Worf as his victim.

57 11-Across is on it : EST
(11A Home of the NCAA’s Mountaineers : WVA)

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Down

2 Zoom and Lyft had them in 2019 : IPOS

An initial public offering (IPO) is the very first offer of stock for sale by a company on the open market. In other words, an IPO marks the first time that a company is traded on a public exchange. Companies have an IPO to raise capital to expand (usually).

4 Chaps : HES

“Chap” is an informal term meaning “lad, fellow” that is used especially in England. The term derives from “chapman”, an obsolete word meaning “purchaser” or “trader”.

6 Writer who created the Ryanverse : CLANCY

I loved the Tom Clancy series of novels, most of which feature Jack Ryan as the main character. However, I felt that with each successive title, my interest faded a little. I was hooked with “The Hunt for Red October” published in 1984, and dutifully worked my way through Clancy’s subsequent novels, before giving up halfway through 1998’s “Rainbow Six”. Tom Clancy passed away at the beginning of October 2013.

8 Rescue squad VIPs : EMTS

Emergency medical technician (EMT)

10 “Boss of the Plains” tops : STETSONS

Boss of the Plains was a style of hat created by Hat manufacturer John B. Stetson in 1865. Stetson was from New Jersey, and set up his hat production business in Philadelphia. His focus was on the needs of cowboys and Western settlers, whose headwear at the time was generally impractical. The Boss of the Plains was lightweight, had a wide brim to protect from the sun, and was waterproof.

12 Word from Afrikaans for “field” : VELDT

”Veldt” (sometimes “veld”) is the name given to large rural spaces in southern Africa. We might use the term “boondocks” for the same thing. The word “veldt” comes from the German for “field”.

Afrikaans is a language spoken mainly in South Africa that was introduced there by Dutch settlers in the 18th century. The original settlers were mainly from South Holland, so Afrikaans evolved from the Dutch vernacular that they spoke.

21 Zany : OUTLANDISH

Something described as zany is clownish and bizarre. “Zany” can also be a noun, a term used for a clown or buffoon. The original noun was “Zanni”, a Venetian dialect variant of Gianni, short for Giovanni (John). Zanni was a character who appeared in comedy plays of the day, and was someone who aped the principal actors.

23 Cooking meas. : TBSP

Tablespoon (tbsp.)

24 Quechua speaker : INCA

Quechua was the Native-American language adopted by the Incan Empire and favored over other dialects. Today, Quechua is one of the official languages in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, alongside Spanish.

26 Job not included in the original “Around the World in Eighty Days” : BALLOONIST

“Around the World in 80 Days” is a wonderful adventure story written by French author Jules Verne and first published in 1873. There have been some great screen adaptations of the story, including the 1956 movie starring David Niven as the protagonist Phileas Fogg. In almost all adaptations, a balloon is used for part of the journey, and is perhaps the most memorable means of transportation on Fogg’s trip around the world. However, if you read the book, Fogg never uses a balloon at all.

27 Dance class support : BARRE

A barre is a handrail used by ballet dancers for warm-up exercises and to provide support when practicing certain moves.

30 Kiss cam images, briefly : PDAS

Public display of affection (PDA)

The kiss cam is a diversion during some sporting events in which a video camera picks out random couples in the crowd, projecting their image onto the giant screen at the venue. The couples are encouraged to kiss, for the entertainment of the fans. Famously, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama kissed for the kiss cam at a basketball game a few years ago, as did former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

32 Cong. period : SESS

A legislative (legis.) meeting of Congress (Cong.) might be called a session (sess.).

34 Caen cleric : ABBE

In French, an “abbé” (abbot) is in charge of “une abbaye” (an abbey).

Caen, on the River Orne, lies in the Calvados department of France in the northwest of the country. Caen is famous for the WWII Battle of Caen that left the town practically destroyed. Caen is also the burial place of Norman King William I of England, also known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

41 Do novel work : WRITE

Our word “novel”, used for a lengthy work of fiction, comes from the Latin “novella” meaning “new things”.

42 Havens : OASES

An isolated area of vegetation in a desert is called an oasis (plural “oases”). As water is needed for plant growth, an oasis might also include a spring, pond or small lake. We often use the term “oasis” more generally to describe a haven, a place of rest.

49 Arrived home evasively : SLID

That would be baseball.

51 Ship that sailed from Iolcus : ARGO

In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts set sail on the Argo from the city of Iolcos in search of the Golden Fleece. Jason’s vessel was called the “Argo” in honor of the ship’s builder, a man named Argus.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 DIY creators of under-the-skin data storage devices : BIOHACKERS
11 Home of the NCAA’s Mountaineers : WVA
14 Cap : UPPER LIMIT
15 Leave behind : SHED
16 Fights : DOES BATTLE
17 __-price sale : HALF
18 Loan app fig. : SSN
19 Quick tennis match : ONE SET
20 Adjective evoking past times : OLDE
21 Tolkien creature : ORC
22 __ Beach: Fla. recreation spot : ST PETE
24 “Not right now” : I’M BUSY
27 Tree of Madagascar : BAOBAB
29 Bar order : NEAT
30 Fast cash venues : PAWN SHOPS
33 Musical exchange in many gospel songs : CALL AND RESPONSE
36 Departure notice : ALL ABOARD!
37 “Not that much” : LESS
38 Thinking of stealing, maybe : ON BASE
39 Middle numbers in some measurements : WAISTS
41 Impassive : WOODEN
43 Key to going back : ESC
44 Hindu royal : RANI
45 Distributes online : SHARES
49 Wellness center : SPA
52 Goddess of Ellis Island? : ISIS
53 White-sale holder, possibly : WINE DEALER
55 Radio host John : TESH
56 Offering proof of : EVIDENCING
57 11-Across is on it : EST
58 Worked for : REPORTED TO

Down

1 Spring sights : BUDS
2 Zoom and Lyft had them in 2019 : IPOS
3 Not taken : OPEN
4 Chaps : HES
5 Leafy spots : ARBORS
6 Writer who created the Ryanverse : CLANCY
7 Beach flier, often : KITE
8 Rescue squad VIPs : EMTS
9 Heat up : RILE
10 “Boss of the Plains” tops : STETSONS
11 Sea creature fossil components : WHALEBONES
12 Word from Afrikaans for “field” : VELDT
13 Charge that may be related to traffic : AD FEE
15 One who’s often patronizing : SHOPAHOLIC
21 Zany : OUTLANDISH
23 Cooking meas. : TBSP
24 Quechua speaker : INCA
25 Sit-down event, usually : MEAL
26 Job not included in the original “Around the World in Eighty Days” : BALLOONIST
27 Dance class support : BARRE
28 Super-impressed : AWED
30 Kiss cam images, briefly : PDAS
31 “Over here!” : PSST!
32 Cong. period : SESS
34 Caen cleric : ABBE
35 Disappointing phone call result : NO ANSWER
39 Garden tool : WEEDER
40 Go-ahead : ASSENT
41 Do novel work : WRITE
42 Havens : OASES
46 Sweet spot? : HIVE
47 Have __: drink in moderation : A NIP
48 Go back over : REDO
49 Arrived home evasively : SLID
50 Shut (up) : PENT
51 Ship that sailed from Iolcus : ARGO
54 Nail : ACE