LA Times Crossword 25 Oct 23, Wednesday

Advertisement

Constructed by: Jill Singer
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Facial Expression

Themed answers are all common EXPRESSIONS, and each includes a part of the FACE:

  • 40A Many an emoji, and a feature of the starred clues and their answers? : FACIAL EXPRESSION
  • 18A *”Attractive!” : EYE-CATCHING!
  • 24A *”Noisy!” : EAR-PIERCING!
  • 49A *”Amazing!” : JAW-DROPPING!
  • 64A *”Delicious!” : LIP-SMACKING!

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

Bill’s time: 5m 37s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

15 Hoosier hoopster : PACER

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, who play in the NBA. The name was chosen when the team was formed in 1967. “Pacers” is a homage to harness racing pacers (famed in Indiana) and the pace car used in the Indianapolis 500.

The exact origin of the word “hoosier” is unknown, but has been around since at least 1830. The term had no direct linkage with Indiana until John Finley of Richmond, Indiana wrote a poem called “The Hoosier’s Nest” in 1833. A few years later, by 1840, “hoosiers” was generally accepted as a term describing Indiana residents.

17 Large volume : TOME

“Tome” first came into English from the Latin “tomus” which means “section of a book”. The original usage in English was for a single volume in a multi-volume work. By the late 16th century, “tome” had come to mean “large book”.

20 Othello’s false friend : IAGO

Despite being portrayed as a villain in William Shakespeare’s “Othello”, Iago is one of the most complex characters in the play. He is known for his Machiavellian tactics, manipulating the other characters to achieve his selfish goals.

22 Urchin-eating mammal : OTTER

Male and female otters are known as dogs and bitches, with the offspring called pups. Males and females are sometimes referred to as boars and sows. A collection of otters is a bevy, family, lodge or perhaps a romp. When in water, a collection of otters can be called a raft.

Sea urchins are globular, spiny creatures found just about everywhere in the ocean. The “roe” of a sea urchin is eaten as a delicacy in several cuisines around the world. In a sushi restaurant, the sea urchin roe is called “uni”. The term “roe” normally means “fish eggs”, but in the case of the sea urchin it refers to the gonads of both the male and female.

23 Place to stop on an RV trip : KOA

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) was founded in 1962 by Montana businessman Dave Drum, who opened up his first property along the Yellowstone River. His strategy was to offer a rich package of services including hot showers, restrooms and a store, which he hoped would attract people used to camping in the rough. The original campground was an immediate hit and Drum took on two partners and sold franchises all over the country. There are about 500 KOA sites today.

31 Thin nails : BRADS

A brad is a slender wire nail with a relatively small head that is typically used to tack pieces of wood together, i.e. to fasten either temporarily or with minimal damage to the wood. Nowadays, brads are commonly applied using a nail gun.

36 Pulitzer winner Ferber : EDNA

Edna Ferber was a novelist and playwright from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ferber won a Pulitzer for her novel “So Big”, which was made into a film a few times, most famously in 1953 starring Jane Wyman. Ferber also wrote “Show Boat”, “Cimarron” and “Giant”, which were adapted successfully for the stage and/or big screen.

40 Many an emoji, and a feature of the starred clues and their answers? : FACIAL EXPRESSION

An emoji is a character found on many cell phones that is much like an emoticon, but is more elaborate. The use of emojis originated in 1997 on mobile phones in Japan, and within a few years spread around the world. “Emoji” is a Japanese word meaning “picture word”.

45 Expert in Islamic law : MUFTI

A mufti is a jurist who interprets Islamic law. A nonbinding opinion issued by a mufti is a fatwa.

46 Breakfast brand : EGGO

Eggo is a brand of frozen waffles that was introduced by Kellogg in 1953. The brand experienced a surge in popularity in the 1980s due to a successful ad campaign featuring a family sitting down to breakfast together and enjoying Eggo waffles. The tagline of the commercials, “Leggo my Eggo”, is still recognized today.

48 Sunscreen letters : SPF

Sun protection factor (SPF)

66 Site with tutorials : EHOW

eHow is a how-to website that was founded in 1999. eHow has an awful lot of content but doesn’t do a great job of assessing the value of that content. I wouldn’t recommend it …

67 Water filter brand : BRITA

Brita is a German company that specializes in water filtration products. Brita products do a great job of filtering tap water, but they don’t “purify” it as they don’t remove microbes. That job is usually done by a municipality before the water gets to the faucet.

Down

2 Breakfast brand : MAYPO

Maypo is a brand of instant oatmeal that has maple flavor. Maypo was introduced in 1953, and has had some famous athletes promoting the product over the years. Mickey Mantle, Wilt Chamberlain and Johnny Unitas have all been seen on TV exclaiming, “I want my Maypo!”

3 Winter carnival structure : ICE PALACE

An ice palace is a temporary structure, one made from blocks of ice. The first such structure was built on the order of the Empress Anna in Saint Petersburg, Russia in the winter of 1739. That particular ice palace was an elaborate affair, erected during the celebrations following Russia’s victory over the Ottoman Empire. The palace survived for several months, eventually melting at the start of the following summer.

4 Gumshoes : TECS

“Gumshoe” is a slang word used for a private detective or private investigator (P.I.). Apparently the term dates back to the early 1900s, and refers to the rubber-soled shoes popular with private detectives at that time.

5 Latin 101 verb : ERAT

“Esse” is the Latin for “to be”. “Sum” means “I am”, “est” means “he, she is”, and “erat” means “he, she was”.

6 Pelvic bones : SACRA

The sacrum (plural “sacra”) and the two ilia (singular “ileum”) are three bones in the human pelvis.

7 Old anesthetic : ETHER

Ethers are a whole class of organic compounds, but in the vernacular “ether” is specifically diethyl ether. Diethyl ether was once very popular as a general anesthetic.

8 Like potato chips but not mashed potatoes : CRISP

French fries are called “chips” back in Ireland where I grew up. And what we call “chips” in the US are known as “crisps” in Britain and Ireland. In France, French fries are known as “pommes frites” (fried potatoes).

9 Metal derived from cassiterite : TIN

Cassiterite is an ore containing tin oxide, and is the most important source of metallic tin. The ore’s name comes from the Greek “kassiteros” meaning “tin”.

11 Sutures : STITCHES UP

A suture is used to close an open wound. The term “suture” comes from the Latin word “suere” meaning “to sew”, the past participle of which is “sutus”.

12 South American mammal related to the raccoon : COATI

A coati is a member of the raccoon family and is also known as the Brazilian aardvark, or the snookum bear. The coati is native to Central and South America, but can also be found in the southwest of the United States.

13 Pharmaceutical giant : AMGEN

AMGen is a biotechnology company that was founded in 1980 as Applied Molecular Genetics. The company’s headquarters is in Thousand Oaks, California.

22 “You for Me” singer Rita : ORA

Rita Ora is a British singer who was born Rita Sahatçiu in Pristina, Yugoslavia to Albanian parents. The family name “Sahatçiu” comes from a Turkish word meaning “watchmaker”. Rita’s parents changed their name to make it easier to pronounce. So, the family name morphed from “watchmaker” to “time”, which is “ora” in Albanian.

29 Gp. known for travelers’ checks : TSA

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

31 Buddy letters : BFF

Best friend forever (BFF)

32 Issa of “The Photograph” : RAE

“The Photograph” is a 2020 film starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield. Rae plays the daughter of a famed photographer (portrayed by Courtney B. Vance), and Stanfield plays a journalist who is investigating the life of her mother. This one is probably best described as a romantic drama, and one I’d like to see one day …

39 Singer-songwriter DiFranco : ANI

Ani DiFranco is a folk-rock singer and songwriter. DiFranco has also been labeled a feminist icon, and in 2006 won the Woman of Courage Award from the National Organization for Women.

41 Amazon’s arrow smile, e.g. : LOGO

Amazon.com introduced its celebrated “smiling” logo in 2000. A clever design, the company name sits above an curved arrow that goes from the first letter “a” to the letter “z”, implying the all-encompassing scope of the merchandise offered by Amazon. That arrow also has the shape of a friendly “smile”. Clever …

42 Texting tech : SMS

Short Message Service (SMS) is the name for the text messaging service that many of us still use on our cell phones to contact friends and family.

47 Hurdle for Ph.D. hopefuls : GRE

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

49 Ballet leaps : JETES

In the world of ballet, a dancer performs an entrechat by jumping vertically into the air and rapidly crossing the legs before and behind.

50 Hilo hello : ALOHA

Hilo is the largest settlement on the Big Island of Hawaii, and has a population of over 43,000 (that’s not very many!). I love the Big Island …

51 Inelegant bit of typesetting : WIDOW

In the world of typesetting, a widow is a short line of type, perhaps one that ends a paragraph, but one that spills over onto the next page or column. It’s a no-no as a “widow” looks a little weird sitting there on “her” own.

52 Dilation target : PUPIL

An unnatural constriction of the pupil of an eye is called miosis. Unnatural dilation is known as mydriasis.

53 Place to share pics : INSTA

Instagram (often abbreviated to “Insta”, or “IG”) is a photo-sharing application, one that is extremely popular. Instagram started in San Francisco in 2010. Facebook purchased Instagram two years later, paying $1 billion. The billion-dollar Instagram company had just 13 employees at the time of the sale …

58 Tool for making neat beds : EDGER

That might be a flower bed.

61 Patients’ main MDs : PCPS

Primary care physician (PCP)

62 Pod in Cajun cuisine : OKRA

Cajun cuisine is named for the French-speaking Acadian people who were deported from Acadia in Canada to Louisiana in the 18th century.

65 George Gershwin’s songwriting brother : IRA

Ira Gershwin was the lyricist who worked with his brother George to create such American classics as the songs “I Got Rhythm” and “Someone to Watch Over Me”, as well as the opera “Porgy and Bess”. After George Gershwin died, Ira continued to create great music, and worked with the likes of Jerome Kern and Kurt Weill.

/p>

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Whomp, quaintly : SMITE
6 Religious subdivisions : SECTS
11 Injury reminder : SCAR
15 Hoosier hoopster : PACER
16 Sunlit courtyards : ATRIA
17 Large volume : TOME
18 *”Attractive!” : EYE-CATCHING!
20 Othello’s false friend : IAGO
21 Marketplaces on smartphones : APP STORES
22 Urchin-eating mammal : OTTER
23 Place to stop on an RV trip : KOA
24 *”Noisy!” : EAR-PIERCING!
27 Replayed tennis serve : LET
30 Not particularly inspiring : BLAH
31 Thin nails : BRADS
33 Fundamental : BASAL
36 Pulitzer winner Ferber : EDNA
40 Many an emoji, and a feature of the starred clues and their answers? : FACIAL EXPRESSION
43 Pedal pushers : FEET
44 Heeds : OBEYS
45 Expert in Islamic law : MUFTI
46 Breakfast brand : EGGO
48 Sunscreen letters : SPF
49 *”Amazing!” : JAW-DROPPING!
56 Function : USE
59 Say “y’all,” say : ELIDE
60 Without a rival : UNOPPOSED
63 Big fuss : TO-DO
64 *”Delicious!” : LIP-SMACKING!
66 Site with tutorials : EHOW
67 Water filter brand : BRITA
68 Plain text : PROSE
69 Cut, as a log : SAWN
70 Meal that gets tossed : SALAD
71 More rational : SANER

Down

1 Bark elicitor : SPEAK!
2 Breakfast brand : MAYPO
3 Winter carnival structure : ICE PALACE
4 Gumshoes : TECS
5 Latin 101 verb : ERAT
6 Pelvic bones : SACRA
7 Old anesthetic : ETHER
8 Like potato chips but not mashed potatoes : CRISP
9 Metal derived from cassiterite : TIN
10 Droop : SAG
11 Sutures : STITCHES UP
12 South American mammal related to the raccoon : COATI
13 Pharmaceutical giant : AMGEN
14 Corp. makeover : REORG
19 Small digit? : TOE
22 “You for Me” singer Rita : ORA
25 Letter-shaped girders : I-BARS
26 International fashion magazine : ELLE
28 Made shorter, in a way : EDITED DOWN
29 Gp. known for travelers’ checks : TSA
31 Buddy letters : BFF
32 Issa of “The Photograph” : RAE
33 Free jazz kin : BEBOP
34 Firetruck tool : AXE
35 Intel collector : SPY
37 Spread of cultural ideas, e.g. : DIFFUSION
38 “__ a chance!” : NOT
39 Singer-songwriter DiFranco : ANI
41 Amazon’s arrow smile, e.g. : LOGO
42 Texting tech : SMS
47 Hurdle for Ph.D. hopefuls : GRE
49 Ballet leaps : JETES
50 Hilo hello : ALOHA
51 Inelegant bit of typesetting : WIDOW
52 Dilation target : PUPIL
53 Place to share pics : INSTA
54 Wanderer : NOMAD
55 Dean’s list no. : GPA
57 Gut feeling : SENSE
58 Tool for making neat beds : EDGER
61 Patients’ main MDs : PCPS
62 Pod in Cajun cuisine : OKRA
64 Lots of ozs. : LBS
65 George Gershwin’s songwriting brother : IRA

19 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword 25 Oct 23, Wednesday”

    1. We’re enjoying a stretch of warm weather, expecting the first dry weekend in quite a while. There are still bumblebees in the asters. So far this fall, I’ve lifted three sluggish bees from the ground back into the flowers: two bumbles and one honeybee. Meanwhile, the first junco arrived a few days ago. Winter isn’t far behind.

      Be well.

  1. 10:34 – no errors or lookups. False starts: ICECASTLE>ICEPALACE, FRIED>CRISP.

    Nothing particularly new or forgotten, but maybe a little slow in being recalled. Wasn’t entirely sure about “cassiterite,” but it looked a little familiar, and TIN is the only 3-letter metal that I know of.

    The theme “caught my eye” easily enough with familiar phrases, and all of them ended in ING.

  2. Maypo was big for people of a certain age @Anon Mike. I haven’t seen it in decades.

    I like these fun, less obscure themes. But that said, I managed brain farts on EDNA, ELIDE and JETES. Never heard of AMGEN.

    And my quibble of the day is SAWN. Shouldn’t it have a Brit disclaimer to the clue or sonething?

  3. That 33 across is weird, too. Obscure use of the word basal, which is primarily used meaning “forming the base of” as in skin cancer. Have never seen it used as fundamental. That’s basic!

  4. No errors…never heard of EHOW but I remember the kid in a high chair saying “I want my maypo”…guess that dates me
    Stay safe😀

    1. I’m with Jack: I filled in MAYPO with no hesitation and then realized that all I remember is the name (some kind of pun on “maple”… or maybe a childish pronunciation of “maple”?), and that it was an edible cereal of some kind. As I recall, I was first exposed to TV in 1954, which Google tells me is about the time the “famous” commercial aired, so I suppose it was etched into my neural circuitry then.)

  5. As a crossword fan but novice is it my imagination or are these Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday puzzles getting more like Thursday, Friday, Saturday?

    1. It is not your imagination. This didn’t feel like a Wednesday to me. I usually am able to complete a Wednesday puzzle, but not this one. I was so frustrated, I gave up.

  6. 12 mins, 7 sec and no errors. Lots of false starts and writeovers in this one; it was a bit of a challenge. Good grid though, and with a decent theme for once.

  7. 21:55 – clean, but took it’s toll on me.

    A little hard for a Wednesday, but fair and fun.

    As others have mentioned BASAL was a bit obscure, and kept me from filling in the downs for a while. After that, I just went with the downs and it worked out.

    Yeah, unfortunately, I’m old enough to remember Maypo – never ate it though.

    Be Well.

  8. So, here’s a comment on something no one cares about but me: “Y’all” is a perfectly legitimate contraction of “you all”. The implication is that we Southerners are just too lazy or stupid to pronounce “you all” correctly. I don’t see it as an elide at all. “Y’all” is just as good a contraction as “don’t”, “can’t” or “shouldn’t”. (Am I protesting too much?)

  9. I thought this one was very challenging for a Wednesday and didn’t finish the grid. I did get the theme, but didn’t help me in the end. So many clues I couldn’t figure out.

  10. I know what a gumshoe is. A private eye or detective. But what does TECS mean? Please someone explain to me as Bill didn’t help on this one.

  11. Mostly easy Wednesday for me; took a slightly slow 13:17 with no peeks or errors. A bit of dancing around some seldom used or obscure words, but nothing overly difficult.

    @Pam – Thanks for rescuing the sluggish bees. I keep trying to tell people to plant asters so that bees will have late season forage.

    @Gail – Hmm, I don’t see it as lazy or stupid, just a quaint affectation of a Southerner. I use it on occasion, for effect, but not very often. I agree with you; it is perfectly good contraction.

Comments are closed.