LA Times Crossword 25 Mar 23, Saturday

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Constructed by: Doug Peterson & Christina Iverson
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme: None

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

Bill’s time: 23m 14s

Bill’s errors: 3

• FLYING V GUITAR (Flying S guitar)
• SATINET (satinel)
• BHAGAVAD GITA (Bhagasad Gila)

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

15 Co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy : HIAWATHA

Hiawatha was a real-life Native American leader, although much of his reputation is based on legend. He was a leader of the Onondaga and/or the Mohawk peoples, and played a key role in the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy that brought together the Five Nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. It is important to know that the great leader Hiawatha has nothing to do with the fictional Hiawatha in Longfellow’s famous poem “The Song of Hiawatha”.

16 Pottsylvania spy Natasha : FATALE

Fearless Leader, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale are all characters in the cartoon show “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. Fearless Leader is the dictatorial ruler of Pottsylvania, and Boris and Natasha are two of his minions, two inept government agents.

17 __ calculus : INTEGRAL

Remember doing calculus at school, and all those derivatives and integrals? Well, you probably also remember that an integral calculates the area under a curve (for example), and a derivative calculates the slope of a tangent at a particular point on a curve.

19 Practice figures, for short : MDS

Medical doctor (MD)

20 Raced while supine : LUGED

A luge is a small sled used by one or two people, on which one lies face up and feet first. The luge can be compared to the skeleton, a sled for only one person and on which the rider lies face down and goes down the hill head-first. Yikes!

When lying on one’s back, one is said to be in a supine position. When lying on one’s stomach, one is said to be prone.

23 Fruity addition to pico de gallo : PINA

In Spanish, one might include “piña” (pineapple) in a pico de gallo recipe.

Pico de gallo is a Mexican condiment made from tomato, onion and chili peppers. “Pico de gallo” is Spanish for “beak of rooster”. Apparently this name was given as eating of the condiment with the thumb and forefinger resembled the pecking of a rooster. An alternative name for pico de gallo is “salsa fresca”, which translates literally as “fresh sauce”.

26 Many a custom Gibson : FLYING V GUITAR

The Flying V is a model of electric guitar introduced by Gibson in 1958. It has a distinctive V-shaped body, hence the name. The Flying V was initially a commercial failure, and only a few hundred were produced in the late 1950s. In the mid- to late-sixties, the futuristic design caught the attention of some iconic guitar players, including Jimi Hendrix, causing sales of the Flying V to take off.

30 Freetown currency : LEONE

Leones are the currency of Sierra Leone. The Leone was introduced in 1964 to replace the British West African pound. The move was a practical one, as the Leone is a decimal currency and replaces the old British system of pounds, shillings and pence.

The Republic of Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa that lies on the Atlantic Coast. The capital city of Freetown was originally set up as a colony to house the “Black Poor” of London, England. These people were mainly freed British slaves of Caribbean descent who were living a miserable life in the run-down parts of London. Perhaps to help the impoverished souls, perhaps to rid the streets of “a problem”, three ships were chartered in 1787 to transport a group of blacks, with some whites, to a piece of land purchased in Sierra Leone. Those who made the voyage were granted British citizenship and protection. The descendants of these immigrants, and others who made the journey over the next 60 years, make up the ethnic group that’s today called the Sierra Leone Creole.

31 “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?” playwright : ALBEE

“The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?” is a play written in 2000 by American playwright Edward Albee. It tells the story of a successful architect named Martin, who falls in love with a goat named Sylvia. Despite its controversial subject matter, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?” has been critically acclaimed and has won numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play in 2002.

35 Kicks out of Oz? : UGGS

Uggs are sheepskin boots that were first produced in Australia and New Zealand. The original Uggs have sheepskin fleece on the inside for comfort and insulation, with a tanned leather surface on the outside for durability. “Ugg” is a generic term Down Under, although it’s a brand name here in the US.

36 NSFW : ADULT

The abbreviation “NSFW” stands for “not safe/suitable for work”. It’s Internet slang used to describe online content that is best not viewed at work.

37 Noodle house noodles : SOBA

Soba is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. In Japan, the word “soba” tends to describe any thin noodle, in contrast with the thicker noodle called “udon”.

38 Drag strip? : BOA

The etymology of the term “drag”, as used in the transvestite world, seems to be unclear. It perhaps relates to the tendency of a transvestite’s skirts to drag along the ground in days of old (although why they just didn’t hitch up their skirts is beyond me!).

39 Fibber of old radio : MCGEE

“Fibber McGee and Molly” was one of the longest-running comedies on radio, originally airing from 1935 to 1959. The characters Fibber McGee and Molly were a married couple, as were the actors who played them: Jim Jordan and Marian Driscoll. The show was set in the Illinois city of Peoria, and that’s where Jordan and Driscoll were born and where they lived in real life.

41 New York neighborhood also called El Barrio : SPANISH HARLEM

The Manhattan district of Harlem is sometimes divided into Central Harlem, West Harlem and East Harlem. East Harlem is also known as “Spanish Harlem”.

44 Shiny fabric : SATINET

Satinet is a fabric that resembles satin, but is usually cheaper to produce and more durable as it is made partly from cotton or a synthetic fiber. Satinet has been around for a very long time, first developed in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC.

50 O, for one : MAG

The full name of the publication usually called “O” is “O: The Oprah Magazine”. Since the magazine’s founding in 2000, Oprah has appeared alone on the cover of each issue, with two exceptions. On the April 2009 cover Oprah was shown with First Lady Michelle Obama, and on the December 2009 cover Oprah shared the limelight with Ellen DeGeneres.

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53 Company whose logo is an alien named Snoo : REDDIT

Reddit is a popular social news aggregation and discussion website where users can submit content in the form of links or text posts and then vote on those submissions. One of the most recognizable symbols of the website Reddit is its mascot, a cartoon alien named Snoo.

Snoo is a genderless, anthropomorphic creature with a round head and a smiling face. It was created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2005 when he was still a student at the University of Virginia. Ohanian was inspired by a phrase he had heard in the movie “Men in Black,” which was “little green men,” and he decided to create a “little green alien” as Reddit’s mascot.

57 Many “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts : AVIANS

An aviary is a large cage that houses birds, and something described as avian is bird-like or bird-related. “Avis” is Latin for “bird”.

The fabulous Christmas carol called “The Twelve Days of Christmas” dates back at least to 1780 when it was first published in England, though it may be French in origin. The concept of twelve days of Christmas comes from the tradition that the three kings came to visit the Christ Child twelve days after he was born. This same tradition is the origin of the title to Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night”.

59 Illinois River port : PEORIA

Peoria is the oldest European settlement in the state of Illinois, having been settled by the French in 1680. The city is famous for being cited as “the average American city”. The phrase, “Will it play in Peoria?” is used to mean, “Will it appeal to the mainstream?” It is believed the expression originated as a corruption of, “We shall play in Peoria”, a line used by some actors in the 1890 novel “Five Hundred Dollars” by Horatio Alger, Jr.

The Illinois River is a tributary of the Mississippi that played a significant role in the growth of the city of Chicago. In the late 1800s, engineers reversed the flow of the Chicago River, causing it to flow into the Illinois River instead of Lake Michigan. This allowed the city’s sewage and other waste to flow away from the lake, which was the source of the city’s drinking water. As a result, the Illinois River became heavily polluted, leading to environmental concerns and efforts to clean it up in more recent years.

Down

2 Golden __: Drake’s ship : HIND

Sir Francis Drake was a Vice-Admiral in the Elizabethan navy, and second in command when the Royal Navy defeated the Spanish Armada. He was also a sanctioned pirate for the Queen and wreaked havoc on the Spanish merchant fleet. Drake’s most famous ship was the Golden Hind, in which he circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580.

3 Aveeno ingredient : OATS

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.

5 “The Breakfast of Champions,” e.g. : TAGLINE

Wheaties breakfast cereal was introduced in 1924, and is often referred to as the “Breakfast of Champions” due to its long-standing association with successful athletes. Over the years, Wheaties has featured many famous names on its boxes, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Muhammad Ali. The first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box was the baseball player Lou Gehrig in 1934.

7 “The Song by God” scripture : BHAGAVAD GITA

“The Bhagavad Gita” (sometimes just “The Gita”) is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that forms part of the ancient Indian epic, “The Mahabharata”. Written in Sanskrit, the title of the work translates as “The Song of the Bhagavan”, with “Bhagavan” often translated as “Lord, God”.

8 Rory Gilmore’s alma mater : YALE

“Gilmore Girls” is a comedy show that originally aired from 2000 to 2007 on the WB. The title characters are mother and daughter Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. All the action takes place in the fictional Connecticut town of Stars Hollow.

9 Alaska Airlines hub: Abbr. : SFO

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) served as the main base of operations for Virgin America (sold to Alaska Airlines), and is also the maintenance hub for United Airlines. Even though SFO is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, the airport is located to the south in San Mateo County.

Despite the name, Alaska Airlines is based in SeaTac, Washington. The company was founded as McGee Airways in 1932, and back then was based in Anchorage, Alaska. The Alaska Airlines name dates back to 1944.

10 Uncle Sam’s piece of the pie : TAX BITE

The Uncle Sam personification of the United States was first used during the War of 1812. The “Uncle Sam” term was so widely accepted that even the Germans used it during WWII, choosing the code word “Samland” for “America” in intelligence communiques.

11 Goddess who oversaw the Argo’s construction : ATHENA

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 a man named Argus, who designed and constructed it with the help of the goddess Athena.

12 Deli choice : KAISER ROLL

The Kaiser roll was invented in Vienna, Austria. It is thought that the “Kaiser” name was applied to the crusty roll in honor of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I.

14 Lowdown : DEETS

“Deets” is slang for “details”.

21 Train pulled by a pair of locomotives : DOUBLEHEADER

In order to provide extra power or speed, a train may have more than one locomotive at the front. If the locomotives are controlled by one driver or one crew in the cab of the leading locomotive, then the practice is referred to as “multiple-working”. If each locomotive is operated individually by its own driver or crew, then the practice is referred to as “double heading” (two locomotives) or “triple heading” (three locomotives).

23 Spare parts? : PINS

In bowling, the downing of all ten pins in two balls in the same frame is called a spare, and scores ten points. The player gets a bonus, equal to the number of pins downed with the next ball, which could be up to ten. Hence, a spare can be worth up to 20 points

25 First name in geometric art : PIET

Piet Mondrian was a painter from the Netherlands who also lived and worked in Paris, London and New York. Mondrian’s works ranged in style from Impressionism to Abstract.

27 Toy company based in Billund, Denmark : LEGO

Lego is manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company headquartered in Billund, Denmark. The company was founded by a carpenter called Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1934 and the now-famous plastic interlocking blocks were introduced in 1949. The blocks were originally sold under the name “Automatic Binding Bricks” but I think “Lego” is easier to remember! The name “Lego” comes from the Danish term “leg godt” meaning “play well”.

Billund is a town in the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. It is home to the head office of the Lego company, and also home to Denmark’s second-largest airport.

33 Wind often made from grenadilla wood : OBOE

Grenadilla (also “African blackwood”) is a flowering plant and source of time that is native to parts of Africa. The plant’s wood is dense and highly prized for the manufacture of musical instruments and fine furniture.

39 Bit of Borat attire : MANKINI

A mankini is a daring type of swimsuit designed for men, which is typically made of a single piece of stretchy fabric that covers the groin area and is held in place by straps over the shoulders. It was popularized by the character Borat, played by Sacha Baron Cohen in the 2006 mockumentary film “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.”

42 “Learn what you are and be such” poet : PINDAR

Pindar was an ancient Greek poet who is best known perhaps for composing a series of “Victory Odes” that celebrated triumph in competition, most notably the Olympian Games of the day.

43 Strong suit? : HAZMAT

Dangerous goods are commonly referred to as hazardous materials, or HAZMAT. People working with dangerous goods might wear a HAZMAT suit.

44 Like a lemon, eventually : SCRAP

Long before we associated the term “lemon” with a defective car, it was used to describe defective items in general.

45 Naproxen brand : ALEVE

“Aleve” is a brand name used for the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen sodium.

49 __ fide: in bad faith : MALA

“Mala fide” is Latin for “in bad faith” and is in essence the opposite to “bona fide” meaning “in good faith”. Bad faith is a concept defined by the law that addresses the motives behind certain actions.

50 Mean relative : MODE

The three Ms of math are the mean, median and mode.

51 Soon, in stanzas : ANON

“Stanza” is an Italian word meaning “verse of a poem”.

52 Factor in cilantro tolerance, e.g. : GENE

Research has suggested that the dislike of cilantro may have a genetic basis. This gene in question is associated with the detection of aldehydes, which are compounds found in cilantro that are also present in soap and other household products. Cilantro tolerance can also vary depending on cultural background. Cilantro is a commonly used herb in Mexican and Thai cuisines, and individuals from these cultures are more likely to have a higher tolerance for cilantro than individuals from other cultures where cilantro is less commonly used.

54 Org. with wands : TSA

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

56 Noir sleuth : TEC

The expression “film noir” has French origins, but only in that it was coined by a French critic in describing a style of Hollywood film. The term, meaning “black film” in French, was first used by Nino Frank in 1946. Film noir often applies to a movie with a melodramatic plot and a private eye or detective at its center. Good examples would be “The Big Sleep” and “D.O.A”.