LA Times Crossword 10 Jan 23, Tuesday

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Constructed by: Dan Schwartz & Shannon Rapp
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Nothing in Common

Themed answers each include “NADA”, Spanish for “NOTHING”, as a hidden word:

  • 63A Lack of similar interests, and what the three long answers with circled letters have? : NOTHING IN COMMON
  • 17A 1965 Beach Boys hit whose B side was “Please Let Me Wonder” : DO YOU WANNA DANCE?
  • 29A “Just part of the job” : ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
  • 49A Fruity cocktail : BANANA DAIQUIRI

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

Bill’s time: 5m 26s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

10 Actor Daniel __ Kim : DAE

Daniel Dae Kim is an American actor who is famous for playing Jin-Soo Kwon on “Lost”. Kim moved on to play one of the leads on the CBS remake of “Hawaii Five-O”, portraying the character Chin Ho Kelly.

13 Quaking trees : ASPENS

The “quaking” aspen tree is so called because the structure of the leaves causes them to move easily in the wind, to “tremble, quake”.

15 Honolulu’s island : OAHU

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, and the state capital. Located on the island of Oahu, the name “Honolulu” translates from Hawaiian as “place of shelter, calm port, sheltered bay”.

17 1965 Beach Boys hit whose B side was “Please Let Me Wonder” : DO YOU WANNA DANCE?

“Do You Wanna Dance?” was recorded by the Beach Boys in 1965. The song was originally written and recorded as “Do You Want to Dance?” by Bobby Freeman in 1958, and then successfully covered in the UK by Cliff Richards and the Shadows in 1962. However, my favorite version of the song was released by Bette Midler in 1972, a slow and sultry rendition by the Divine Miss M.

21 Field of greens? : GOLF

The modern game of golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century. The first written record of golf is actually a banning of the game, by King James II in 1457. King James IV was a fan of golf, and so lifted the ban in 1502. The venerated Old Course at St. Andrews dates back to 1574. The first golf club established in the US was in Yonkers, New York in 1888. That first club was also named St. Andrews.

22 “L’shanah __”: Rosh Hashanah greeting : TOVAH

“L’shanah tovah” is a traditional Jewish greeting meaning, “to a good year”.

Rosh Hashanah is loosely referred to as “Jewish New Year”. The literal translation from Hebrew is “head of the year”.

23 Stage accessory : PROP

We use the word “props” for objects that are used by actors on stage during a play. The term is a shortening of the older term “properties”, which was used with the same meaning up through the 19th century.

25 “Thor” role for Anthony Hopkins : ODIN

The 2011 movie “Thor” is yet another film based on a comic book hero. Even though I won’t be seeing it (I don’t do comics), I must admit it does have an impressive cast. Chris Hemsworth plays Thor, supported by Natalie Portman, Rene Russo, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins. And to crown it all, Kenneth Branagh is the director.

The marvelous actor Anthony Hopkins got his big break in movies playing Richard the Lionheart in the 1968 historical drama “The Lion in Winter”. Hopkins hails from the south coast of Wales, and was encouraged in his early career by fellow Welshman Richard Burton, whom he met when he was a teenager. I’d say that Hopkins’ best-known film role was Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”.

27 “__ and Juliet” : ROMEO

William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is all about the love between the two title characters, which is forbidden as the pair come from two families who are sworn enemies. Early in the play, Romeo (a Montague) sneaks into a masquerade ball being held by the Capulets in the hope of meeting a Capulet girl named Rosaline. Instead, he meets and falls for Juliet, also a Capulet. Tragedy ensues …

32 Honey liquor : MEAD

Mead is a lovely drink that’s made from fermented honey and water.

33 Uber status : ETA

The rideshare service Uber takes its name from the English colloquial word “uber” meaning “super, topmost”, which in turn comes from the German “über” meaning “above”.

35 Depilatory brand : NAIR

Nair is a hair-removal product that has some pretty harsh ingredients. The most important active constituents are calcium hydroxide (“slaked lime”) and sodium hydroxide (“caustic soda”). Other Nair components seem to be there to soothe the skin after the harsher chemicals have done their job. The name “Nair” probably comes from combining “no” and “hair”.

A depilatory agent is something capable of removing hair. The root of the term is “pilus”, the Latin for “hair”, and the same word that gives us “pile” (as in a carpet).

44 Animated pic : GIF

A bitmap is an image file format used to store digital images. Basically, each pixel in a bitmap file is stored as a “bit” of information, hence the name “bitmap”. In 1987, CompuServe introduced a new type of image file called the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). A GIF image takes the same information as a bitmap and then compresses it, resulting in a smaller file size. However, during compression the image may lose some resolution. The GIF format also handles short video clips, usually animations.

46 Protective trench : MOAT

A moat is a protective trench that surrounds a castle, say, or an exhibit in a zoo. A moat may or may not be filled with water.

49 Fruity cocktail : BANANA DAIQUIRI

Daiquirí is a small village on the coast near Santiago, Cuba and a key location in the American invasion of Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Supposedly, the cocktail called a “daiquiri” was invented by American mining engineers in a bar in nearby Santiago.

55 Khaki alternative : ECRU

The color ecru is a grayish, yellowish brown. The word “ecru” comes from French and means “raw, unbleached”. “Ecru” has the same roots as our word “crude”.

58 Greek letter between rho and tau : SIGMA

Sigma (Σ) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, and is the one used for an “ess” sound, equivalent to our letter S. Sigma is used in mathematics to represent a summation, the adding together of a sequence of numbers.

62 Director DuVernay : AVA

Ava DuVernay is a filmmaker who became the first African-American woman to win the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, a feat she achieved in 2012 for her feature film “Middle of Nowhere”. “Middle of Nowhere” tells the story of a woman who drops out of medical school to focus on her husband when he is sentenced to 8 years in prison. DuVernay also directed the 2014 film “Selma” about the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

66 Letter opener? : ELL

The letter L (ell) is the opening letter in the word “letter”.

67 Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe : NERO

Nero Wolfe is a fictional detective and the hero of many stories published by author Rex Stout. There are 33 Nero Wolfe novels for us to read, and 39 short stories. There are also movie adaptations of two of the novels: “Meet Nero Wolfe” (1936) which features a young Rita Hayworth, and “The League of Frightened Men” (1937). One of Wolfe’s endearing traits is his love of good food and beer, so he is a pretty rotund character.

68 “Cobra Kai” practice : KARATE

“Cobra Kai” is a TV show that premiered in 2018 that is a sequel to “The Karate Kid” series of films, the first of which was released in 1984. Actor Ralph Macchio reprises his role from the movies, playing protagonist Daniel LaRusso. William Zabka also reprises his role from the big screen, playing Johnny Lawrence, LaRusso’s rival in karate competitions. The title of the show “Cobra Kai” is the name of the karate dojo in which Johnny Lawrence trained as a youth, and which he decides to reopen 34 years later.

70 Peabody-winning journalist Ifill : GWEN

Gwen Ifill was a television journalist who was regularly seen on PBS’s “Newshour”. Ifill was also the moderator on the weekly PBS show “Washington Week”, and was also selected to moderate the US Vice Presidential debates in 2004 and 2008.

The Peabody Awards have been presented annually since 1941 to individuals and organizations for excellence in broadcasting. They are named for businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, who provided the funds to establish the awards program.

Down

2 Map line connecting points of equal value : ISOGRAM

An isoline (sometimes “isogram”) is a line on a map that connects points of equal value, perhaps equal temperature or equal rainfall.

4 Job listing abbr. : EEO

“Equal Employment Opportunity” (EEO) is a term that has been around since 1964 when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was set up by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII of the Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.

7 __ Chinese: world’s largest ethnic group : HAN

The Han Chinese people are the largest ethnic group in the world, and comprise 18% of the planet’s population. The 1.3 billion Han also make up 92% of China’s population. The group takes its name from the Han dynasty that ruled much of modern day China from roughly 200 BCE to 220 CE.

8 At the drop of __ : A HAT

It is suggested that the idiomatic phrase “at the drop of a hat” comes from the Old West, where a signal to start a fight was just that, a drop of a hat.

9 Some houses with exposed-beam exteriors : TUDORS

Anyone wanting to see examples of magnificent buildings in the Tudor style of architecture might consider a visit to the English university towns of Oxford and Cambridge.

18 “Bridge of Spies” actor Alan : ALDA

Alan Alda has had a great television career, most notably as a lead actor in “M*A*S*H”. He was born Alphonso D’Abruzzo in the Bronx, New York City. Alda won his first Emmy in 1972, for playing surgeon Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H”. He also won an Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of Presidential candidate Senator Arnold Vinick in “The West Wing”. When it comes to the big screen, my favorite of Alda’s movies is the 1978 romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year” in which he starred opposite Ellen Burstyn.

“Bridge of Spies” is a 2015 historical thriller directed by Steven Spielberg and starring his friend Tom Hanks. The story is all about the arrest and trial of U-2 pilot Gary Powers, who was shot down over the Soviet Union while on a spying mission for the CIA. Hanks plays lawyer James B. Donovan, the lawyer who negotiates Powers’ release. Powers was actually exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, with the exchange taking place at the bridge connecting Potsdam with Berlin, the “Bridge of Spies”.

26 Battle of the Beltways MLB team : NATS

The Beltway Series (also “The Battle of the Beltways”) is a series of games played by MLB rivals the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. The series takes its name from the Baltimore and Capital Beltways (I-695 and I-495), two highways serving the Baltimore and Washington areas.

30 Mont. neighbor : IDA

Idaho borders six states, and one Canadian province:

  • Montana
  • Wyoming
  • Nevada
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Oregon
  • British Columbia

36 Swiatek ranked world No. 1 by the WTA in 2022 : IGA

Iga Swiatek is a professional tennis player, and the first from Poland to win a major singles title (the French Open in 2020).

39 CGI bird in Liberty Mutual ads : EMU

Liberty Mutual is an insurance company based in Boston. The business was founded in 1912 as the Massachusetts Employees Insurance Association (MEIA). Liberty Mutual has a famous advertising icon named LiMu Emu.

40 Nickel or dime : COIN

The 5-cent American coin known as a nickel is actually made up of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The first nickel was introduced in 1866, and was named the Shield nickel due to the shield design on the front of the coin. The current design is the Jefferson nickel, which was introduced in 1938.

The term “dime”, used for a 10-cent coin, comes from the Old French word “disme” meaning “tenth part”.

41 Purple yam from the Philippines : UBE

Ube is a species of yam that is purple in color. I’m a big fan of ube ice cream. Potato-flavored ice cream; what’s not to like?!

42 Moment to shine at a jazz recital, perhaps : SAX SOLO

The saxophone was invented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax, hence the name. Sax developed lip cancer at one point in his life, and one has to wonder if his affliction was related to his saxophone playing (I am sure not!). I had the privilege of visiting Sax’s grave in the Cemetery of Montmartre in Paris a few years ago.

47 Nameless local guy in The Onion headlines : AREA MAN

Area Man is a persona used by the satirical newspaper “The Onion” in articles that are written in the style of local news. Area Man is a generic individual, like Bay Area man, Dallas man, Peoria man, etc.

48 50-50 in the Senate, say : TIE VOTE

Our word “senate” comes from the Latin name for such a body, namely “senatus”. In turn, “senatus” is derived from “senex” meaning “old man”, reflecting the original Roman Senate’s makeup as a council of “elders”.

57 “Homeland” Emmy winner Claire : DANES

Claire Danes is an actress from New York City who played the title role in the HBO movie “Temple Grandin”. More recently, she has been starring as Carrie Mathison in the excellent Showtime drama series “Homeland”.

“Homeland” is a psychological drama on Showtime about a CIA officer who is convinced that a certain US Marine is a threat to the security of the United States. The show is based on a series from Israeli television called “Hatufim” (Prisoners of War”). I highly recommend it …

63 Pickleball court divider : NET

Pickleball is a sport invented in the 1960s, and which combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. Originally marketed as a game for children to play in backyards, pickleball is now played on purpose-built courts by many, many adults, but mainly in North and South America.

64 Test for aspiring profs : GRE

Passing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is usually a requirement for entry into graduate school here in the US.

65 CT scan kin : MRI

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine uses powerful magnetic fields to generate images that can be used by medical professionals to diagnose injury and disease.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 __ off: gets smart : WISES
6 Online customer service option : CHAT
10 Actor Daniel __ Kim : DAE
13 Quaking trees : ASPENS
15 Honolulu’s island : OAHU
16 Mos. and mos. : YRS
17 1965 Beach Boys hit whose B side was “Please Let Me Wonder” : DO YOU WANNA DANCE?
20 Cry of disgust : UGH!
21 Field of greens? : GOLF
22 “L’shanah __”: Rosh Hashanah greeting : TOVAH
23 Stage accessory : PROP
25 “Thor” role for Anthony Hopkins : ODIN
27 “__ and Juliet” : ROMEO
29 “Just part of the job” : ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
32 Honey liquor : MEAD
33 Uber status : ETA
34 Method: Abbr. : SYS
35 Depilatory brand : NAIR
38 Job detail, briefly : SPEC
41 “__ your imagination!” : USE
44 Animated pic : GIF
46 Protective trench : MOAT
49 Fruity cocktail : BANANA DAIQUIRI
54 Bonus : EXTRA
55 Khaki alternative : ECRU
56 Simply must have : NEED
58 Greek letter between rho and tau : SIGMA
60 Slog away : TOIL
62 Director DuVernay : AVA
63 Lack of similar interests, and what the three long answers with circled letters have? : NOTHING IN COMMON
66 Letter opener? : ELL
67 Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe : NERO
68 “Cobra Kai” practice : KARATE
69 Digit on a foot : TOE
70 Peabody-winning journalist Ifill : GWEN
71 Fees for overdue library books, e.g. : FINES

Down

1 Crumple into a ball : WAD UP
2 Map line connecting points of equal value : ISOGRAM
3 Small security opening in a door : SPYHOLE
4 Job listing abbr. : EEO
5 Warm and cozy : SNUG
6 Disclose : CONFIDE
7 __ Chinese: world’s largest ethnic group : HAN
8 At the drop of __ : A HAT
9 Some houses with exposed-beam exteriors : TUDORS
10 Big bundles of energy : DYNAMOS
11 Target sport : ARCHERY
12 Opposite of WNW : ESE
14 Faint : SWOON
18 “Bridge of Spies” actor Alan : ALDA
19 Declare bluntly : AVOW
24 Strategize : PLAN
26 Battle of the Beltways MLB team : NATS
28 Approves : OKS
30 Mont. neighbor : IDA
31 Shrill bark : YAP
36 Swiatek ranked world No. 1 by the WTA in 2022 : IGA
37 Uber service : RIDE
39 CGI bird in Liberty Mutual ads : EMU
40 Nickel or dime : COIN
41 Purple yam from the Philippines : UBE
42 Moment to shine at a jazz recital, perhaps : SAX SOLO
43 Authorize : ENTITLE
45 Political subgroup : FACTION
47 Nameless local guy in The Onion headlines : AREA MAN
48 50-50 in the Senate, say : TIE VOTE
50 Exasperated cry : ARGH!
51 New pet owner’s task : NAMING
52 Wrinkle remover : IRON
53 “Hurry up!” : QUICK!
57 “Homeland” Emmy winner Claire : DANES
59 From the top : ANEW
61 Bread shape : LOAF
63 Pickleball court divider : NET
64 Test for aspiring profs : GRE
65 CT scan kin : MRI