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Edited by: Patti Varol
Today’s Reveal Answer: Show the Way
Themed answers only match the corresponding clues when we SHOW the “WAY-” prefix in front. Clever …
- 58A Give clear directions, or how to make the starred clues match their answers? : SHOW THE WAY
- 18A *Pop-up shop on the edge of the road? : WAYSIDE HUSTLE
- 23A *Underground market for home goods? : WAYFAIR TRADE
- 35A *Butcher’s knife that’s very hard to handle? : WAYWARD CLEAVER
- 50A *Snuck up on a chicken coop to collect breakfast? : WAYLAID AN EGG
Read on, or jump to …
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Bill’s time: 7m 51s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
1 State that’s easy to draw : UTAH
When viewed on a map of the US, the state of Utah has six sides. It’s almost shaped like a rectangle, but there is a “bite” out of that rectangle in the northeast corner of the state.
5 South American bean : CACAO
The seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree are cacao beans. The beans can be dried, and crushed. The resulting pieces are sold as cacao nibs.
14 Post-WWII alliance : NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded not long after WWII in 1949 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The first NATO Secretary General was Lord Ismay, Winston Churchill’s chief military assistant during WWII. Famously, Lord Ismay said the goal of NATO was “to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.”
15 Celebrity gossip source since 1991 : E! NEWS
E! Entertainment Television started out in 1987 as Movietime, and hired on-air hosts such as Greg Kinnear and Paula Abdul. It was renamed in 1990 to E! Entertainment Television, underscoring the focus on Hollywood gossip and the like.
16 Princess athlete in the 1976 Summer Olympics : ANNE
Anne, Princess Royal was born in 1950 and is the only daughter of British Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Anne has been in the public spotlight for many things, including her success as an equestrian. Princess Anne was the first member of the British Royal Family to have competed in an Olympic Games. Her daughter Zara Phillips continued the tradition and competed as a member of the British equestrian team in the 2012 Olympic Games. Zara’s medal was presented to her by her own mother, Princess Anne.
20 Device called a “cashpoint” in the U.K. : ATM
ATMs are Automated Teller Machines, and are called “cashpoints” back in Britain and Ireland. Well, as students we also called them “drink links”, for obvious reasons …
23 *Underground market for home goods? : WAYFAIR TRADE
Wayfair is an online furniture store that was founded in 2002 as CSN Stores (from the initials of co-founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine).
26 Court tie : DEUCE
The origin of the 15, 30, 40 scoring system in a game of tennis is disputed. One theory is that a 60-minute clock face was used to keep score. Points won would advance in quarters, 15, 30, 45 and 60 for the game. When the score “deuce” was introduced to avoid a win by a one-point difference, the score of 45 was pushed back to 40, so that 50 could indicate deuce.
28 Forensic profiling material : DNA
Something described as forensic is connected with a court of law, or with public discussion or debate. The term comes from the Latin “forensis” meaning “of a forum, of a place of assembly”. We mainly use the word today to mean “pertaining to legal trials” as in “forensic medicine” and “forensic science”.
30 Solstice mo. : DEC
A solstice occurs twice in every year. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year (has the most daylight), and the winter solstice is the shortest.
34 “__ we forget” : LEST
“Lest we forget” is an oft-quoted phrase, one that comes from a poem by Rudyard Kipling called “Recessional”. Kipling wrote the piece on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897 and used it to express sadness at the waning of the British Empire. The phrase “lest we forget” is used in this context, a warning that the empire will decline. Ever since WWI we’ve been using the words on memorials as a plea not to forget the sacrifices made by others in the past.
35 *Butcher’s knife that’s very hard to handle? : WAYWARD CLEAVER
I’ve always found “to cleave” an interesting verb. When used with an object, to cleave something is to split it, as when using a cleaver. When used without an object, to cleave is to cling, to adhere, as in “to cleave to one’s principles in the face of adversity”. Although not exactly so, the two definitions seem to have opposite meanings to me …
38 Chop garlic, say : PREP
Our word “garlic” evolved via Old English from “gar” (spear) and “leac” (leek). The use of “spear” is apparently a reference to the shape of a clove.
42 Coxswain’s lack : OAR
The coxswain of a boat is one in charge of steering and navigation. The word “coxswain” is shortened to “cox”, particularly when used for the person steering and calling out the stroke in a competition rowing boat.
43 Pressure meas. : PSI
Pounds per square inch (PSI) is a measure of pressure.
44 Justice Sotomayor : SONIA
Sonia Sotomayor was the first Hispanic justice appointed to the US Supreme Court, and the third female justice. Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama to replace the retiring Justice David Souter in 2009. She is the subject of a picture book in the series “Ordinary People Change the World” by Brad Meltzer. “I Am Sonia Sotomayor” was published in 2018.
48 Feudal lord : LIEGE
Feudalism was a legal and military system that flourished in medieval Europe. Central to the system were the concepts of lords, vassals and fiefs. Lords would grant fiefs (land or rights) to vassals in exchange for allegiance and service.
A liege was a feudal lord, one to whom service or allegiance was owed under feudal law. “Liege” was also the term used for one who owed allegiance or service to a lord. Apparently the term is influenced by the Latin verb “ligare” meaning “to tie, bind”. So, I guess both lord and servant were “bound” to each other.
50 *Snuck up on a chicken coop to collect breakfast? : WAYLAID AN EGG
The Old English word “cypa”, meaning “basket”, evolved in the 14th century to the word “coop” to describe a small cage for poultry. We still use “coop” today.
56 Hindu honorifics : SRIS
“Sri” is a title of respect for a male in India.
60 __ Williams bourbon : EVAN
Evan Williams is a brand of bourbon whiskey. It is named for a Welsh immigrant who settled in Kentucky and started distilling in 1783. However, the Evan Williams brand isn’t that old, having been introduced by Heaven Hill Distilleries in 1957.
65 Many a forty-niner : MINER
The California gold rush actually started in 1848. The first to exploit the find were those people already in California. By 1849 the word had spread and gold-seekers started to arrive from all over the world. The “out-of-towners” who arrived in 1849 became known as forty-niners.
66 Bank for mil. families : USAA
The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is an insurance company that was founded in 1922 by officers in the US Army. The group was prompted to form the enterprise as main street insurance companies viewed members of the military as a high-risk group and so refused coverage or charged excessive rates. The USAA continues to focus on its niche market, members and immediate family members of the US military,and has extended services offered to banking products.
Down
1 In need of a Mr. Yuk sticker : UNSAFE
Mr. Yuk is a graphic image used to label poisonous substances, as an alternative to the more traditional skull and crossbones. The Mr. Yuk symbol was created by the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as a more appropriate warning for children.
2 Instrument also known as a chau gong : TAM-TAM
The tam-tam is a gong that also goes by the names “chau gong” or “bullseye gong”. It is the kind of gong that has become part of a symphony orchestra, having been introduced by French composer François-Joseph Gossec in 1790.
5 Labor leader Chavez : CESAR
César Chávez was a Mexican-American farm worker, and co-founder of the union today known as the United Farm Workers. Chávez was born in Yuma, Arizona, but moved to California as a child with his family. He never attended high school, dropping out to become a full-time migrant farm worker. In 1944, at 17 years of age, he joined the US Navy and served for two years. 5-6 years after returning from the military, back working as a farm laborer, Chávez became politically active and rose to national attention as an articulate union leader during some high profile strikes. He is remembered annually here in California on his birthday, March 31, which is a state holiday.
6 Inner self, to Jung : ANIMA
The concepts of anima and animus are found in the Carl Jung school of analytical psychology. The idea is that within each male there resides a feminine inner personality called the anima, and within each female there is a male inner personality known as the animus.
9 Mae’s sister on “Star Wars: The Acolyte” : OSHA
“Star Wars: The Acolyte” is a TV series in the “Star Wars” franchise that started to air in 2024. The action takes place about 100 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, at the end of an era of peace, and just before the timing of the movie “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”.
The word “acolyte” comes from the Greek “akolouthos” meaning “companion, attendant, helper”. In the Christian tradition, an acolyte is an individual who assists some way in a ceremony, by lighting candles for example. In more general terms, an acolyte is a devoted follower or attendant.
19 MyPlate org. : USDA
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) dates back to 1862, when it was established by then-president Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln referred to the USDA as the “people’s department” as our economy had such a vast agrarian base back then.
The first food guide pyramid was issued in 1974, in Sweden. The food pyramid that we’re most familiar with in this country is the one published by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992, which was replaced in 2011. Instead of a pyramid, we now have a guide called MyPlate (available on the website ChooseMyPlate.gov). MyPlate urges us to eat about 30% grains, 30% vegetables, 20% fruits, 20% proteins on our plates, accompanied by a small serving of dairy.
21 Heifer’s brother : STEER
A steer is a male bovine that was castrated when young and is then raised for beef. The term “steer” comes from the Old English “steor” meaning “bullock”.
A calf is a young cow of either sex that is not more than a year old. A heifer is a young cow that has not calved, and the term “cow” can be used for a female of the species that has given birth.
25 Polygon part : EDGE
The suffix -gon comes from the Greek “gonia” meaning “angle, knee”. An octagon, for example, has eight angles, and a polygon has many angles.
33 Key not found on a Mac : ALT
The Alt (alternate) key is found on either side of the space bar on US PC keyboards. The Alt key evolved from what was called a Meta key on old MIT keyboards, although the function has changed somewhat over the years. Alt is equivalent in many ways to the Option key on a Mac keyboard, and indeed the letters “Alt” have been printed on most Mac keyboards starting in the nineties.
37 Exchange program papers : VISAS
A visa is usually a stamp in one’s passport, an indication that one is authorized to enter (and less often, to exit) a particular country. The word “visa” comes into English, via French, from the Latin expression “charta visa” meaning “paper that has been seen”, or “verified paper”.
38 Future Hill worker’s maj., maybe : POLI-SCI
The designer of Washington D.C., Pierre L’Enfant, chose the crest of a hill as the site for the future Congress House. He called the location “Jenkins Hill” and “Jenkins Heights”. Earlier records show the name as “New Troy”. Today, we call it “Capitol Hill”.
39 Slicker accompaniment : RAIN-HAT
A slicker is a waterproof jacket or coat that is typically worn to protect the body from rain. Back in the mid-19th century, a slicker was a tool used for smoothing (slicking) leather. The term was adopted in the 1880s for a raincoat made from such leather. By 1900, a slicker was also a clever and crafty (slick) person.
43 Wasp, for one : PEST
While wasps are considered a nuisance by many, they are very important to the agricultural industry. Wasps prey on many pest insects, while having very little impact on crops.
46 Tropical lizard : IGUANA
An iguana is a lizard, and as such is cold-blooded. There are times when pet iguanas need heat from an IR lamp to maintain body temperature. They can also be very large lizards, sometimes growing to a length of six feet.
47 Meeting list : AGENDA
“Agenda” is a Latin word that translates as “things to be done”, coming from the verb “agere” meaning “to do”.
51 Egyptian market city : ASWAN
The Egyptian city of Aswan lies in the south of the country, on the River Nile. It is famous for its stone quarries, going back to ancient times. The most celebrated granite rock from the area is called syenite. Stone from Aswan was shipped northwards along the Nile and used in the construction of the pyramids. From ancient times right up to 1970, the annual flooding of the Nile was a significant event in Egypt. The flooding allowed the deposition of fertile silt far beyond the banks of the river, helping the region’s agriculture. However, the flooding was unpredictable. So the Aswan Dam was built in the sixties and from 1970 the flooding was brought under control.
59 New Haven student : ELI
Elihu Yale was a wealthy merchant born in Boston in 1649. Yale worked for the British East India Company, and for many years served as governor of a settlement at Madras (now Chennai) in India. After India, Yale took over his father’s estate near Wrexham in Wales. It was while resident in Wrexham that Yale responded to a request for financial support for the Collegiate School of Connecticut in 1701. He sent the school a donation, which was used to erect a new building in New Haven that was named “Yale” in his honor. In 1718, the whole school was renamed to “Yale College”. To this day, students of Yale are nicknamed “Elis”, again honoring Elihu.
60 Petting zoo bird : EMU
The emu has had a tough time in Australia since man settled there. There was even an “Emu War” in Western Australia in 1932 when migrating emus competed with livestock for water and food. Soldiers were sent in and used machine guns in an unsuccessful attempt to drive off the “invading force”. The emus were clever, breaking their usual formations and adopting guerrilla tactics, operating as smaller units. After 50 days of “war”, the military withdrew. Subsequent requests for military help for the farmers were ignored. The emus had emerged victorious …
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 State that’s easy to draw : UTAH
5 South American bean : CACAO
10 Loyalty program level : TIER
14 Post-WWII alliance : NATO
15 Celebrity gossip source since 1991 : E! NEWS
16 Princess athlete in the 1976 Summer Olympics : ANNE
17 Air quality factor : SMOG
18 *Pop-up shop on the edge of the road? : WAYSIDE HUSTLE
20 Device called a “cashpoint” in the U.K. : ATM
21 Matching : SAME
22 Stellar : ASTRAL
23 *Underground market for home goods? : WAYFAIR TRADE
26 Court tie : DEUCE
27 Host : EMCEE
28 Forensic profiling material : DNA
30 Solstice mo. : DEC
31 Corp. head : CEO
33 Ripe old __ : AGE
34 “__ we forget” : LEST
35 *Butcher’s knife that’s very hard to handle? : WAYWARD CLEAVER
38 Chop garlic, say : PREP
40 Address bar character : DOT
41 Car wheel part : RIM
42 Coxswain’s lack : OAR
43 Pressure meas. : PSI
44 Justice Sotomayor : SONIA
48 Feudal lord : LIEGE
50 *Snuck up on a chicken coop to collect breakfast? : WAYLAID AN EGG
54 Bringing up the rear : IN LAST
56 Hindu honorifics : SRIS
57 Truly regret : RUE
58 Give clear directions, or how to make the starred clues match their answers? : SHOW THE WAY
60 __ Williams bourbon : EVAN
61 Ale holder : CASK
62 Thrill to bits : ELATE
63 Stitch up : MEND
64 Supersmall : ITTY
65 Many a forty-niner : MINER
66 Bank for mil. families : USAA
Down
1 In need of a Mr. Yuk sticker : UNSAFE
2 Instrument also known as a chau gong : TAM-TAM
3 Infinitesimal : ATOMIC
4 Selfish type : HOG
5 Labor leader Chavez : CESAR
6 Inner self, to Jung : ANIMA
7 Surrendered : CEDED
8 Veneration : AWE
9 Mae’s sister on “Star Wars: The Acolyte” : OSHA
10 Decorator’s asset : TASTE
11 Unwelcome visitor : INTRUDER
12 Intertwines : ENLACES
13 Word on some campaign posters : REELECT
19 MyPlate org. : USDA
21 Heifer’s brother : STEER
24 Summary : RECAP
25 Polygon part : EDGE
29 Not far : NEAR
32 Probability calculations : ODDS
33 Key not found on a Mac : ALT
34 Finger bowl slice : LEMON
35 “Let’s check the map” : WE’RE LOST
36 Spiral : COIL
37 Exchange program papers : VISAS
38 Future Hill worker’s maj., maybe : POLI-SCI
39 Slicker accompaniment : RAIN-HA
43 Wasp, for one : PEST
45 Jitters : NERVES
46 Tropical lizard : IGUANA
47 Meeting list : AGENDA
49 Nervously clumsy : GAWKY
51 Egyptian market city : ASWAN
52 Furious : IRATE
53 Person eager to tackle home improvement projects, briefly : DIY’ER
55 Those folks : THEM
59 New Haven student : ELI
60 Petting zoo bird : EMU
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9 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword 1 Nov 24, Friday”
Comments are closed.
14 min
Didn’t know there was a Mr YUK sticker.
Looked it up and it looks appropriate.
7:27
It’s a rare Friday when I’m able to complete the puzzle in less than 10 minutes! (It’s rarer still that I come in ahead of Bill.)
Completed but a few thing were guesses like 6D and 9D. Surprised Bill didn’t mention “Leave it to Beaver” in the explanation for 35A. That’s why I got it, showing my age of course.
No errors but also no clue about the theme until I got here.
Stay safe😀
Go Ravens🙏🙏🙏
9 mins 50 seconds, and 6 errors. Not a fan of fills like WERELOST, because the lack of the apostrophe makes it hard to “see”. That on top of “multiple-word” fills, where the lack of spaces also makes them hard to envision.
9:56 – no errors or lookups. False starts: took a guess at LEIA>OSHA, LEIGE>LIEGE.
New or forgotten: Princess ANNE, EVAN Williams, “Mr Yuk,” “chau gong,” OSHA sister.
Interesting theme. It took a few minutes to figure out how to “show the way” in the starred clues’ answers.
No particularly difficult cluing for a Friday. Seemed a little easier than yesterday.
Thanks… Bill
Mostly easy Friday for me, although I guess pretty darn slow; took 18:43 with no peeks or errors. Didn’t really have any trouble, although I did have to wait for some crosses, but nothing challenging. Didn’t know ANNE, but guessed it straight away, OSHA, EVAN, Mr Yuk, TAM TAM. Just did the puzzle at a relaxed pace, I guess.
Got the theme clues on face value, didn’t see the trick until I got here.
Wow