LA Times Crossword 23 Nov 22, Wednesday

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Constructed by: Lance Enfinger & Jeff Chen
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme (according to Bill): A Cleaner Face

Themed answers are common exclamations reinterpreted as instructions to remove items from the face of a WATCH:

  • 55A “Won’t happen as long as I’m around,” and a summary of 20-, 26-/45-, and 37-Across? : NOT ON MY WATCH
  • 20A “Only a fool would want a little calendar on their timepiece!” : DROP DEAD DATE!
  • 26A With 45-Across, “I don’t need two silly sticks that rotate on my timepiece!” : HANDS OFF THE …
  • 45A See 26-Across : … MERCHANDISE!
  • 37A “Digits on a timepiece? That’s ridiculous!” : FUDGE THE NUMBERS!

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

Bill’s time: 6m 52s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Brother in “Am I my brother’s keeper?” : ABEL

In the story of Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis, Cain murders his brother Abel. Subsequently, God asks Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?” Cain replies, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

19 “Fame” star Cara : IRENE

“Fame” is a 1980 musical film that follows students at New York’s High School of Performing Arts. Irene Cara sings the hugely successful theme song “Fame”, and stars as one of the students. Cara had in fact attended the High School of Performing Arts in real life. The movie “Fame” was so successful that it led to a spinoff TV series, stage shows and a 2009 remake.

32 Rangers goalie Shesterkin : IGOR

Igor Shesterkin is a hockey goaltender from Russia who started playing in the NHL with the New York Rangers in 2019.

33 Veal cordon __ : BLEU

A “cordon bleu” dish is a meat dish, one prepared by wrapping the meat around cheese, covering it with breading and then pan-frying. Specifically, veal cordon bleu is made using veal that is pounded thin and wrapped around slices of ham and cheese. The term “cordon bleu” translated from French as “blue ribbon”.

43 Stud farm stud : SIRE

The word “stud”, meaning “male horse kept for breeding”, is derived from the Old English word “stod”, which described a whole herd of horses. The term “stud” can be used figuratively for a “ladies’ man”.

44 “You __ here” : ARE

So am I …

50 Singer 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 National Organization for Women.

53 Nice street : RUE

The French city of Nice is on the Mediterranean coast in the southeast of the country. Although Nice is only the fifth most populous city in France, it is home to the busiest airport outside of Paris. That’s because of all the tourists flocking to the French Riviera. Something described as “à la niçoise” is “of Nice”.

54 In very sharp resolution : IN HD

High-definition (HD)

65 Tangerine coats : RINDS

The citrus fruit that we know as the tangerine is so called because the first “tangerines” imported into Europe were sourced in “Tangiers”, the capital city of Morocco in North Africa.

68 Baker’s supply : YEAST

Yeasts are unicellular microorganisms in the kingdom Fungi. The species of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used for centuries in the making of wine and beer, and in breadmaking. Saccharomyces cerevisiae converts carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and alcohol in the process of fermentation. When making beer and wine, the carbon dioxide and alcohol may be captured by the liquid. When making bread, the carbon dioxide and alcohol is driven off by heat.

69 Loch __ monster : NESS

Scotland’s Loch Ness is famous for its fabled “monster”, referred to affectionately as “Nessie”. The loch is the second-largest lake in the country (Loch Lomond is the largest). Loch Ness takes its name from the River Ness that flows from the loch’s northern end.

Down

3 Tree on the Great Seal of North Dakota : ELM

The Dakota Territory was formed in 1861 and ceased to exist with the admission to the Union of the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. The territory was split into two states in 1889 largely due to lobbying by the Republican Party, which enjoyed a lot of support in the Dakota Territory. The admission of two states added to the political power of the party in the US Senate, by adding four safe Republican seats.

5 The Schuyler sisters in “Hamilton,” e.g. : TRIO

Elizabeth “Eliza” Schuyler Hamilton was the wife of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Eliza was with her husband when he passed away the day after his famous duel with Vice President Aaron Burr.

6 50+ group : AARP

“AARP” is now the official name for the interest group that used to be called the American Association of Retired Persons. The name change reflects the current focus of the group on all Americans aged 50 or over, as opposed to just people who have retired.

7 “The Secret Life of Bees” novelist Sue Monk __ : KIDD

Sue Monk Kidd’s first novel is probably her most famous, namely “The Secret Life of Bees”, published in 2002. Said novel was adapted into a 2008 movie of the same name starring Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning. Kidd also wrote a 2020 novel titled “The Book of Longings” that tells the story of a woman who marries Jesus Christ.

8 Conditional programming statement : ELSE-IF

In computer programming, an ELSE-IF conditional statement is used to create a chain of IF statements. The chain starts with an IF statement. When that IF statement is false, the ELSE-IF statement is evaluated. When that ELSE-IF statement is false, a second ELSE-IF statement can be used as a further option; and so on down the chain.

10 Southeastern Turkey native : KURD

Most of the Kurdish people live in a region known as Kurdistan, which stretches into parts of Iran, Syria, Turkey as well as northern Iraq.

12 __ bean : PINTO

Pinto beans are so-called because their skins have a mottled (“pinto”) appearance.

13 Construction alloy : STEEL

Steel is an alloy that is composed mainly of iron, with a small percentage of carbon.

18 “The Prime of Miss Jean __” : BRODIE

“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” is a novel by Muriel Spark, and a fabulous film of the same name released in 1969 starring Maggie Smith in the title role. The movie also stars Gordon Jackson (who played Hudson the butler on “Upstairs Downstairs”). The story is set in a girls’ school in Edinburgh in the thirties, with Jean Brodie a somewhat eccentric teacher who describes herself as being “in her prime”.

22 Snowboarder White : SHAUN

Professional snowboarder Shaun White has won Olympic gold three times, in 2006, 2010 and 2018. White is a red-headed Irish American, and is often referred to as “The Flying Tomato”.

23 Head of cauliflower? : HARD C

The head letter of the word “cauliflower” is a hard letter C.

27 Mil. rank : SGT

Sergeant (sgt.) is a rank above corporal (cpl.).

31 Corp. money manager : CFO

Chief financial officer (CFO)

34 Boxer’s restraint : LEASH

The boxer breed of dog (one of my favorites) originated in Germany. My first dog was a boxer/Labrador mix, a beautiful combination. Our current family dog is a boxer/pug mix, and is another gorgeous animal.

39 Peeples of “The Fosters” : NIA

Actress Nia Peeples played the character Nicole Chapman in the TV series “Fame”. Peeples is also a successful singer, having released the 1988 song “Trouble” that made it to #35 in the Billboard charts.

46 Author Hemingway : ERNEST

Ernest Hemingway moved around a lot. He was born in Illinois, and after leaving school headed to the Italian front during WWI. There he served as an ambulance driver, an experience he used as inspiration for “A Farewell to Arms”. He returned to the US after being seriously wounded, but a few years later moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent. He covered the Spanish War as a journalist, from Spain, using this experience for “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. During the thirties and forties he had two permanent residences, one in Key West, Florida and one in Cuba. In the late fifties he moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where he committed suicide in 1961.

47 Alcohol in a Dark ‘n’ Stormy : RUM

A dark ‘n’ stormy is a classic cocktail made from dark rum and ginger beer, served over ice. The name comes from the ingredients, with the “dark” being the rum, and the “stormy” being the ginger beer.

48 Sri Lanka, formerly : CEYLON

The island nation of Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast of India. The name “Sri Lanka” translates from Sanskrit into English as “venerable island”. Before 1970, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, a name given to the country during British rule.

52 Turner memoir : I, TINA

“I, Tina” is a 1986 autobiography by Tina Turner. The book was so successful it was adapted into a movie called “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” The film version was released in 1993 and stars Angela Bassett as Tina Turner.

59 Ring stats : TKOS

Technical knockout (TKO)

63 Polished off : ATE

To polish off is to dispose of completely or rapidly. The verb “to polish off” originated as boxing slang in the 1820s, when it described the act of defeating an opponent quickly and easily. The slang usage was probably a reference to finishing a piece of furniture with a coat of polish.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Brother in “Am I my brother’s keeper?” : ABEL
5 Seize : TAKE
9 Decides not to go to : SKIPS
14 __ reversal : ROLE
15 Train travel : RAIL
16 Book review? : AUDIT
17 Egg warmers : MAMA BIRDS
19 “Fame” star Cara : IRENE
20 “Only a fool would want a little calendar on their timepiece!” : DROP DEAD DATE!
22 Chase off : SHOO
24 Golden yrs. fund : IRA
25 Twitter titter : LOL
26 With 45-Across, “I don’t need two silly sticks that rotate on my timepiece!” : HANDS OFF THE …
31 Garage occupant : CAR
32 Rangers goalie Shesterkin : IGOR
33 Veal cordon __ : BLEU
37 “Digits on a timepiece? That’s ridiculous!” : FUDGE THE NUMBERS!
42 In years past : ONCE
43 Stud farm stud : SIRE
44 “You __ here” : ARE
45 See 26-Across : … MERCHANDISE!
50 Singer DiFranco : ANI
53 Nice street : RUE
54 In very sharp resolution : IN HD
55 “Won’t happen as long as I’m around,” and a summary of 20-, 26-/45-, and 37-Across? : NOT ON MY WATCH
60 Move effortlessly : GLIDE
61 Keeps safe : LOCKS AWAY
65 Tangerine coats : RINDS
66 Crumbled froyo topping : OREO
67 Tardy : LATE
68 Baker’s supply : YEAST
69 Loch __ monster : NESS
70 Former partners : EXES

Down

1 Upper limb : ARM
2 Fluffy scarf : BOA
3 Tree on the Great Seal of North Dakota : ELM
4 String along : LEAD ON
5 The Schuyler sisters in “Hamilton,” e.g. : TRIO
6 50+ group : AARP
7 “The Secret Life of Bees” novelist Sue Monk __ : KIDD
8 Conditional programming statement : ELSE-IF
9 Anticipated a tongue depressor, perhaps : SAID “AH”
10 Southeastern Turkey native : KURD
11 Worth emulating : IDEAL
12 __ bean : PINTO
13 Construction alloy : STEEL
18 “The Prime of Miss Jean __” : BRODIE
21 Fine print, say : ART
22 Snowboarder White : SHAUN
23 Head of cauliflower? : HARD C
27 Mil. rank : SGT
28 “Look at THAT!” : OOH!
29 Hot out of the oven : FRESH
30 Recede : EBB
31 Corp. money manager : CFO
34 Boxer’s restraint : LEASH
35 Goofed up : ERRED
36 Put into play : USE
38 Jewel : GEM
39 Peeples of “The Fosters” : NIA
40 Caterer’s vessel : URN
41 Combat doctors : MEDICS
46 Author Hemingway : ERNEST
47 Alcohol in a Dark ‘n’ Stormy : RUM
48 Sri Lanka, formerly : CEYLON
49 Breathing exercise direction : INHALE
50 Hopping mad : ANGRY
51 “For real!” : NO LIE!
52 Turner memoir : I, TINA
56 Sportsbook offering : ODDS
57 Became frayed, say : WORE
58 Top poker cards : ACES
59 Ring stats : TKOS
62 Surfboard application : WAX
63 Polished off : ATE
64 “Certainly” : YES