LA Times Crossword 12 Oct 24, Saturday

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Constructed by: Bettina Elias Siegel & Dan Elias
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme: None

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

Bill’s time: 10m 33s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Extra work : SIDE HUSTLES

A side hustle is a side job, additional employment taken by a person to supplement his or her primary income.

16 Aloha nui __: affectionate Hawaiian phrase : LOA

“Aloha nui loa” translates from Hawaiian as “All my love”.

17 Special bite : AMUSE-BOUCHE

Amuse-bouche is a small, bite-sized hors d’oeuvre served at the start of a restaurant meal. The item is served free, and is not found on the menu. Rather, it is an item selected by the chef, perhaps to show off his or her cooking style, or to prepare the guests for the meal. The term “amuse-bouche” is French, and translates literally as “mouth amuser”.

18 D.C. United’s org. : MLS

D.C. United is a professional soccer team based in the nation’s capital. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) and plays home games at the Audi Field, moving from Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2017.

19 Enhancer of soups or venue for hoops : MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of a naturally-occurring,non-essential amino acid called glutamic acid. It is used widely as a flavor enhancer, particularly in many Asian cuisines. Whether or not it is harmful seems to be still under debate. I say that anything produced in a test tube shouldn’t be in our food …

Madison Square Garden (MSG) is an arena in New York City used for a variety of events. In the world of sports it is home to the New York Rangers of the NHL, as well as the New York Knicks of the NBA. “The Garden” is also the third busiest music venue in the world in terms of ticket sales. The current arena is the fourth structure to bear the name, a name taken from the Madison Square location in Manhattan. In turn, the square was named for James Madison, the fourth President of the US.

20 Bar fly-er? : DART

Darts is a game that’s often played in English and Irish pubs, even over here in America. The scoring in a traditional game of darts is difficult to describe in a sentence or two, but the game of darts called “Round the Clock” is simply hitting the numbers 1 through 20 on the dartboard in sequence.

21 Gail of “NYPD Blue” : O’GRADY

Actress Gail O’Grady’s biggest role was playing the squad’s administrative aide Donna Abandando on the police procedural TV show “NYPD Blue” (Donna is the blonde with the big hair).

“NYPD Blue” is a police procedural drama series that aired on ABC from 1993 to 2005. The show was created by David Milch and Steven Bochco, the same team behind the hit 1980s cop drama “Hill Street Blues”. “NYPD Blue” was one of the first network television shows to use profanity and partial nudity.

24 19th century women’s rights advocate Amelia : BLOOMER

Amelia Bloomer was a 19th-century women’s right advocate. Bloomer proposed a change in the dress standards for women so they would be less restricted in movement. In particular, she advocated the use of loose trousers gathered at the ankles, worn under a short skirt. The outfit became known as “the Bloomer Costume” and the pants were termed “Bloomers”, which is a word that we use to this day.

28 Wildflower once thought to repel pests : FLEABANE

Fleabanes are perennial flowering plants in the daisy family. Many dog owners plant fleabane daisies in their yards to repel fleas. Fleabanes are also said to deter ticks, gnats, flies and mosquitoes. Some people rub the leaves of the plant on their skin or on their pet’s fur to achieve the desired effect.

32 John Swinney, for one : SCOT

Politician John Swinney took over as First Minister of Scotland in May 2024. He is a member of, and leader of, the Scottish National Party (SNL).

35 Go off course : YAW

The word “yaw” means to deviate from the line of a course and is used mainly at sea and in the air. “Yaw” is derived from the Old Norse word “jaege” which means “to drive, chase”. As such, “yaw” is etymologically related to our word “yacht”.

37 “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” writer/illustrator : CARLE

Eric Carle is a very successful children’s author and book illustrator, with over 100 million of his books sold around the world. Carle’s most famous title is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, and it alone has sold 30 million copies.

38 Kelp and nori : SEAWEEDS

Kelps are large seaweeds that grow in kelp forests underwater. Kelps can grow to over 250 feet in length, and do so very quickly. Some kelps can grow at the rate of 1-2 feet per day.

Nori is an edible seaweed that we used to know as “laver” when we were living in Wales. Nori is usually dried into thin sheets. Here in the US, we are most familiar with nori as the seaweed used as a wrap for sushi.

40 One who may be sacked : PASSER

That might be football.

41 Diplomatic mission : EMBASSY

Most of the embassies and diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C. are located in a section of Massachusetts Avenue. As a result, that section of the thoroughfare earned the nickname “Embassy Row”. Some embassies and diplomatic buildings occupy buildings in nearby streets, and so the term “Embassy Row” can be extended to include a whole neighborhood.

48 “Chandelier” singer : SIA

“Chandelier” is a 2014 song by Australian singer Sia. I don’t know the song myself, but it sounds like it’s a bit of a downer, dealing with alcoholism, addiction and excessive hedonism.

49 Adapt quickly : TURN ON A DIME

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

52 “Catch-22” pilot played by Bob Balaban : ORR

The bomber pilot in Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” is named Orr. He has no other name, just “Orr”.

“Catch-22” is a novel by Joseph Heller set during WWII. The title refers to absurd bureaucratic constraints that soldiers had to suffer. Heller’s “Catch 22” was invoked by an army psychiatrist to explain that any pilot requesting to be evaluated for insanity, to avoid flying dangerous missions, had to be sane as only a sane man would try to get out of such missions. The term “catch-22” has entered the language and describes a paradoxical situation from which one can’t escape due to contradictory rules; one loses, no matter what choice one makes.

Actor and director Bob Balaban is also a producer, and as producer he was an Oscar nominee for the 2001 film “Gosford Park”. Balaban also appeared in “Gosford Park”, portraying Hollywood producer Morris Weissman.

54 Connecticut governor Lamont : NED

Ned Lamont became Governor of Connecticut in 2019. Back in 2006, Lamont defeated incumbent US Senator Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary for the senate seat. Lieberman didn’t give up though, and ran in the election as an independent. Despite defeating Lieberman in the primary, Lamont lost to him in the election.

Down

1 Phishing hook : SCAM

Phishing is the online practice of stealing usernames, passwords and credit card details by creating a site that deceptively looks reliable and trustworthy. Phishers often send out safe-looking emails or instant messages that direct someone to an equally safe-looking website where the person might inadvertently enter sensitive information. “Phishing” is a play on the word “fishing”, as in “fishing for passwords, PINs, etc.”

2 Animal nutritionist who founded a pet food company in 1946 : IAMS

Iams dog food was introduced by animal nutritionist Paul Iams. He felt that household pets were suffering somewhat by being fed a diet of table scraps, so he developed dry dog food that he felt was more nutritious and suitable for pet dogs. He founded the Iams company, now part of Procter & Gamble, in 1946.

3 Pharmacopeia entry : DRUG

A pharmacopoeia is a reference book describing medicinal compounds and their use. The term “pharmacopoeia” often applies to such a book published by a government agency or pharmaceutical society. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is published annually by the nonprofit United States Pharmacopeial Convention, and sets quality standards for drugs made available for both human and animal consumption. Prescribed drugs must meet those standards, and be marked with the designation “USP”.

6 Suave : URBANE

We use “urbane” today to describe something courteous or refined. Back in the 1500s, the term was used in the same way that we now use “urban”. Those townsfolk thought they were more sophisticated than the country folk, and so the usage evolved.

7 Williams work : SCORE

The great composer John Williams has won five Academy Awards for his work on film scores, for:

• “Fiddler on the Roof”
• “Jaws”
• “Star Wars”
• “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
• “Schindler’s List”

9 Switzerland’s __ Léman : LAC

Lake Geneva straddles the border between France and Switzerland. The lake has a lot of “official” names!

• English: Lake Geneva
• French: Lac Léman or Lac de Genève
• German: Genfersee or Genfer See
• Italian: Lago Lemano or Lago di Ginevra

11 Picasso sculpture subject : SHE-GOAT

“She-Goat” is a 1950 sculpture by Pablo Picasso that can be viewed in the Sculpture Garden of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.

12 School songs : ALMA MATERS

The term “alma mater” is used to describe a school from which one has graduated. It can also describe a school’s song or hymn.

13 Words to live by : GOLDEN RULE

The Golden Rule is also known as the ethic of reciprocity, and is a basis for the concept of human rights. A version of the rule used in the Christian tradition is attributed to Jesus:

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

A derivative phrase often heard today is “Love thy neighbor (as thyself)”.

22 Comedian Delaney : ROB

American actor Rob Delaney is best known for co-creating and co-starring in the sitcom “Catastrophe”, along with Irish actress and writer Sharon Horgan. Delaney appears regularly on British TV, partly because he moved to England in 2014.

25 Summer on Cape Cod, e.g. : BUSY SEASON

Cape Cod is indeed named after the fish. It was first referred to as “Cape Cod” by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602, as his men caught so many fish there.

26 South American domain name : INCA EMPIRE

The Inca Empire was known as the Tawantinsuyu, which translates as “land of the four quarters”. It was a federal organization with a central government that sat above four “suyu” or “quarters”, four administrative regions.

27 Election advice from young Grace Bedell to Mr. Lincoln : GROW A BEARD

There is a story that just before Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, he received a letter from a 12-year-old girl who criticized Lincoln’s appearance and his pockmarked, gaunt face. The little girl, Grace Bedell from New York, promised to get her brothers to vote for Lincoln if he would just grow a beard. However, Lincoln waited until after the election to grow his famous whiskers, a distinctive look that would forever be associated with his presidency.

28 Fairy __: cotton candy, in Australia : FLOSS

What we call “cotton candy” here in the US has some interesting names in the rest of the world. Back in Ireland it is candyfloss, in France it is “barbe à papa” (Dad’s beard), and in Australia it is called fairy floss. “Fairy floss” is actually the original name for cotton candy, a name first used when the confection was introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.

30 “The Pianist” Oscar winner : BRODY

Adrien Brody won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the Roman Polanski masterpiece “The Pianist”. Brody won the award in 2003 at the age of 29, making him the youngest person ever to receive the Best Actor Oscar.

“The Pianist” is a memoir of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish musician of Jewish heritage and a survivor of the Holocaust. The memoir was not written by Szpilman himself, but by author Jerzy Waldorff who interviewed him and became his friend. The memoir was first published in 1946 in Poland under the title “Death of a City”, but lay unnoticed for decades. It was republished in English in 1998 under the title “The Pianist”, and became widely read. Roman Polanski then directed a 2002 screen version using “The Pianist” as a title. Sadly, Szpilman died during the making of the film and never saw the great success the movie achieved, including three Academy Awards.

33 Word with blood or water : … PRESSURE

A blood pressure monitor is known more formally as a sphygmomanometer. It comprises an inflatable cuff and a manometer to measure the pressure in the cuff. The cuff is first inflated to the extent that the brachial artery in the upper arm becomes occluded (halting the blood flow). Two measurements are taken as the pressure is gradually reduced. The first is the pressure at which blood just starts to flow again. The second is the pressure at which blood starts to flow freely, unimpeded by the cuff.

36 Pre-euro Spanish coins : PESETAS

The peseta is a former currency of Spain and was also the de facto currency of Spain’s neighbor, the Principality of Andorra. The peseta was replaced by the euro in 2002.

37 Impressionist painter born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania : CASSATT

Mary Cassatt was an American painter from Pennsylvania who moved to France at the young age of 22 years, in 1866. By which time she was already studying to become a professional artist. Cassatt became friends with Edgar Degas, who invited her to exhibit with the group called “the Impressionists”, who were garnering a great deal of attention at the time. Cassatt’s reputation as a great artist is perhaps built on an extensive series of paintings of mothers with a child.

39 Surfer’s need : WAX

That would be wax applied to the bottom of skis or the bottom of surfboards.

42 Electronics component : DIODE

A diode is a component in a circuit, the most notable characteristic of which is that it will conduct electric current in only one direction. Some of those vacuum tubes we used to see in old radios and television were diodes, but nowadays almost all diodes are semiconductor devices.

44 Swarming pest : GNAT

Gnats are attracted to the smell of rotting food, and vinegar. Simple homemade traps that use vinegar are often constructed to attract and kill gnats.

45 Site that may host an edit war : WIKI

Wikipedia edit wars are conflicts that arise when multiple editors disagree on the content of an article and repeatedly try to change it to reflect their own viewpoint. Disputes can sometimes be resolved through discussion and compromise, they can escalate into full-blown “edit wars” where editors engage in a back-and-forth battle to control the article. Wikipedia imposes the “three-revert rule” (3RR), which is a policy that limits the number of times an editor can revert a page to three times within a 24-hour period. The purpose of this rule is to prevent edit wars from getting out of hand and to encourage editors to engage in civil discussion.

46 Iowa college town : AMES

The Iowa city of Ames was founded as a stop on the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad in 1864. It was named for US Congressman Oakes Ames from the state of Massachusetts in honor of the role that Ames played in the building of the transcontinental railroad.

50 TV pioneer : RCA

RCA, or the Radio Corporation of America, played a significant role in the history of television as a pioneer in the industry. RCA developed and introduced the first electronic television system in 1939 at the New York World’s Fair. RCA also created the NTSC (National Television System Committee) broadcast standard, which was adopted in the United States in 1953 and is still used today for analog television broadcasting. Additionally, RCA produced the first color television sets in 1954.

51 DJIA part : DOW

Dow Jones & Company was founded as a publishing house in 1882 by three newspaper reporters, Charles Dow, Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser. Today, the company’s most famous publication has to be “The Wall Street Journal”. In 1884, Charles Dow started reporting the average dollar value of the stock of eleven companies, an index which spawned a whole host of metrics that carry the Dow Jones name to this day. The most famous of these metrics is the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), also known as “the Dow 30” or simply “the Dow”.