LA Times Crossword 6 May 23, Saturday

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Constructed by: Adrian Johnson
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme: None

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

Bill’s time: 19m 49s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

11 Zabaglione base : EGGS

Zabaglione (also “zabaione”) is a dessert from Italian cuisine made from egg yolks, sugar and sweet wine (often Marsala). There is also a thinner version that is served as a drink.

16 Wolfe of “Black Orchids” : NERO

“Black Orchids” is a Nero Wolfe mystery novella by Rex Stout. It was first published in abridged form as “Death Wears an Orchid” in a magazine in 1941. It first appeared in book form in a short-story collection in 1942.

Nero Wolfe is a fictional detective and the hero of many stories published by author Rex Stout. There are 33 Nero Wolfe novels for us to read, and 39 short stories. There are also movie adaptations of two of the novels: “Meet Nero Wolfe” (1936) which features a young Rita Hayworth, and “The League of Frightened Men” (1937). One of Wolfe’s endearing traits is his love of good food and beer, so he is a pretty rotund character.

20 Cutest of the litter, maybe : RUNT

Back around 1500, a runt was an old or decayed tree stump, and by the early 1600s “runt” was being used to describe animals that were similarly old and decayed. Ultimately “runt” came to mean the smallest and often sickest in a litter.

22 Secretive group? : GLANDS

An endocrine gland is one that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. Examples of endocrine glands are the hypothalamus, the thyroid and the adrenal glands. An exocrine gland is one that secretes its essential product by way of a duct. Examples of exocrine glands are sweat glands, salivary glands and mammary glands.

24 Jazz drummer Blakey : ART

Art Blakey was a jazz drummer and bandleader who was known for helping up-and-coming bebop musicians. In 1954, he formed the Jazz Messengers, a band that featured a rotating cast of young, up-and-coming musicians. Blakey led the Jazz Messengers until his death in 1990.

26 City on the James River : RICHMOND

The city of Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The original town was named in 1737 after the English town of Richmond that is now part of London. British planter William Byrd II thought that view of the James River was reminiscent of the view of the River Thames from England’s Richmond Hill.

30 Boxer’s mouth piece? : SQUEAK TOY

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.

35 One committed to an orderly society? : NUN

Nuns are women who have taken religious vows to live a life of prayer, celibacy, and service to their community. The word “nun” comes from the Latin word “nonna,” which means “mother” or “grandmother”. Nuns have been a part of many different religious traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.

41 Classical piece that’s the basis of the 1965 hit “A Lover’s Concerto” : MINUET IN G

“A Lover’s Concerto” is a “lovely” pop song released in 1965 by the Toys. Songwriters Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, lifted the main theme from “Minuet in G major”, an 18th-century composition by German composer Christian Petzold.

43 Biometric reading : IRIS SCAN

An iris scan is a method of biometric identification. It relies on the fact that the complex patterns in the irises are unique to an individual. Note that an iris scan differs from a retinal scan. The latter uses technology that scans the unique pattern of blood vessels in an individual’s retina.

46 Last stop before leaving for vacation, perhaps : KENNEL

Our word “kennel” meaning “doghouse” comes from the Vulgar Latin word “canile” meaning the same thing. A sheep (“ovus”) was kept in an “ovile”, a horse (“equus”) in an “equile”, and a dog (“canis”) in a “canile”.

51 Doug Wright’s “I Am My Own Wife,” e.g. : ONE-MAN SHOW

“I Am My Own Wife” is a one-man play by Doug Wright that opened on Broadway in 2003. It tells the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who survived both the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Berlin.

58 Some fluffy slippers : 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.

59 Dolphin kin : PILOT WHALE

Pilot whales are medium-sized toothed whales that are found in all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic. The name “pilot whale” was applied as pods of the whales were believed to be “piloted” by a leader. Although this is unproven, there is some evidence of the groups of pilot whales “following”. This behavior perhaps explains why pilot whales are known for stranding themselves on land in groups.

60 Source of smoky notes in whiskey : PEAT

When dead plant matter accumulates in marshy areas, it may not fully decay due to a lack of oxygen or acidic conditions. We are familiar with this in Ireland, because this decaying matter can form peat, and we have lots and lots of peat bogs around the country.

61 Uplifting historical figure? : ELISHA OTIS

Elevators (simple hoists) have been around for a long time. What Elisha Otis did was come up with the “safety elevator”, a design that he showcased at the 1853 World’s Fair in New York. At the Fair, Otis would stand on an elevated platform in front of onlookers and order his assistant to cut the single rope holding up the platform. His safety system kicked in when the platform had only fallen a few inches, amazing the crowd. After this demonstration, the orders came rolling in.

62 Cornstarch brand : ARGO

Argo brand cornstarch first hit the store shelves way back in 1892.

63 Mythological swimmer : SEA SERPENT

Medieval maps frequently included images of monsters, usually sea serpents. Some experts believe that these sea monsters were representations of what the cartographer actually believed was living in the oceans. Maps often featured the Latin phrase “Hic sunt dracones” meaning “Here be dragons”.

Down

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2 Veal cut : CHOP

Veal is the meat from calves, whereas beef is the meat from mature cattle. Most veal comes from male calves, as the females can be more valuable as producers of cow’s milk. Historically, veal production has been one of the most controversial practices in animal farming. Some farmers restricted the movement of veal calves by confining them in crates for the whole of their short lives in order to produce paler and more tender meat.

3 Veronese’s “The Wedding Feast at __” : CANA

Paolo Veronese was a Renaissance painter from the Italian city of Verona (hence his name “Veronese”). Veronese is most famous for his paintings “The Wedding at Cana” and “The Feast at the House of Levi”. “The Wedding at Cana” is a massive work, measuring over 21 x 32 feet in size. It has the honor of being the largest painting in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

7 __ Bar: nutritional snack : LUNA

The LUNA Bar is a nutrition bar introduced in 1999 that is aimed at women. Apparently, the bar was created by a group of female employees at the Clif Bar company to address nutritional needs specific to women.

8 Myrmecologist’s study : ANTS

The study of ants is known as myrmecology. The term “myrmecology” derives from the Greek “myrmex” meaning “ant”.

9 Exam for future residents: Abbr. : MCAT

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

10 Physiological humor believed to cause sluggishness : PHLEGM

Ancient Greek and Roman physicians ascribed to the theory that the body had four basic substances, the so-called four humors. All diseases were caused by these four substances getting out of balance. The four humors were:

  • Black bile (melancolia)
  • Yellow bile (cholera)
  • Phlegm (phlegma)
  • Blood (sanguis)

12 Response during allergy season : GESUNDHEIT

“Gesundheit” is the German word for “health”, and is used in response to a sneeze in Germany, as indeed it is quite often here in the US.

24 Cerulean kin : AQUA

Cerulean is a blue color, with the name probably coming from the Latin “caeruleus” meaning “blue”.

25 Calvin’s increasingly outrageous snow art, in “Calvin and Hobbes,” e.g. : RUNNING GAG

The comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” is still widely syndicated, but hasn’t been written since 1995. The cartoonist Bill Watterson named the character Calvin after John Calvin, the 16th century theologian. Hobbes was named for Thomas Hobbes, a 17th century English political philosopher.

28 Baby ailment : COLIC

Baby colic is a condition in which a baby cries for no apparent reason and for extended periods. At least one study has shown that breastfed babies are about half as likely to suffer from colic.

29 Pet for Harley Quinn : HYENA

The character Harley Quinn was introduced by DC Comics in 1992 as a henchwoman for the Joker in a Batman story. Her real name is Harleen Frances Quinzel. She was a psychiatrist who worked at Arkham Asylum, where she met and fell in love with the Joker. After the Joker escaped from Arkham, Harley Quinn followed him and became his sidekick. She developed into a full-blown and independent enemy of Batman over time.

30 Ego Nwodim’s show, for short : SNL

Actress and comedian Ego Nwodim joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 2018. She was a biology major at the University of Southern California, a classic foundation for a successful comedian …

31 Journalist Cornish : AUDIE

Broadcast journalist Audie Cornish hosted NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” from 2011 to 2012, replacing Liane Hansen who hosted the show for over twenty years. Cornish then co-hosted “All Things Considered” until she resigned from NPR in 2022.

33 Italian volcano : ETNA

Italy is home to three active volcanoes:

  • Stromboli (in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily)
  • Vesuvius (overlooking Naples)
  • Etna (on the island of Sicily)

40 Miranda whose case inspired the Miranda warning : ERNESTO

The Miranda warning is given by US police officers to suspects in order to ensure that any statements made by the suspect can be used at trial. The warning became part of police procedure after a 1966 Supreme Court decision in the case of Miranda v. Arizona. The crux of the court’s decision was that statements made by a suspect during interrogation were only admissible at trial if the defendant was informed of his or her right to consult an attorney, and right to remain silent. The “Miranda” in the case was Ernesto Miranda, who was arrested by the Phoenix PD on suspicion of kidnapping and rape. The Supreme Court decision set aside Miranda’s conviction as his confession was deemed inadmissible. Miranda was rearrested and retried. At the second trial he was convicted without the use of the contested confession.

46 Gene dubbed the “Founding Father of the Modern Drum Set” by Modern Drummer : KRUPA

Gene Krupa was a jazz drummer and bandleader. He was known for his energetic playing style and his flashy wardrobe. Krupa was one of the most popular drummers in the swing era, and he helped to popularize the drum set as a solo instrument.

49 Nobelist Sadat : ANWAR

Anwar Sadat was the third President of Egypt right up to the time of his assassination in 1981. Sadat won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978, along with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, for the role played in crafting the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1978 at Camp David. It was this agreement that largely led to Sadat’s assassination three years later.

52 African flower? : NILE

Africa’s River Nile has two main tributaries, the Blue Nile and White Nile, with the White Nile deemed to be the headwaters of the Nile itself. The most distant source of the White Nile is unknown, so I suppose one might argue that the “source of the Nile” is a mystery.

53 Kazan with an honorary Oscar : ELIA

Elia Kazan won Oscars for best director in 1948 for “Gentleman’s Agreement” and in 1955 for “On The Waterfront”. He was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when he was given the 1998 Academy Honorary Award citing his lifetime achievement in the industry. Kazan also directed “East of Eden”, which introduced James Dean to movie audiences, and “Splendor in the Grass” that included Warren Beatty in his debut role.

54 Flowerless plant : MOSS

There is a traditionally-held belief that in the northern hemisphere there is a heavier growth of moss on the north-facing side of trees. The assumption is that the sun creates a drier environment on the south side of the tree, an environment that is less conducive to the growth of moss.

55 Spike Lee’s “She __ Me” : HATE

“She Hate Me” is a 2004 comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Anthony Mackey as a biotech exec who is stuck for cash. He stumbles into a business impregnating lesbians who want to have children.

56 “Chocolat” actress : OLIN

Lena Olin is a Swedish actress, and someone who has acting in her blood. Her mother was the actress Britta Holmberg and her father the actor and director Stig Olin. Olin had a very successful career in Sweden, often working with the great Ingmar Bergman. Olin’s breakthrough international and English-speaking role was playing opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” released in 1988. Way back in 1974, Miss Olin was crowned Miss Scandinavia in a beauty pageant for Nordic women held in Helsinki, Finland. Olin’s most famous performance was in “Chocolat” released in 2000, and then she won an Emmy in 2003 for Best Supporting Actress in the TV show “Alias”.

57 __ Point : WEST

West Point is a military reservation in New York State, located north of New York City. West Point was first occupied by the Continental Army way back in 1778, making it the longest, continually-occupied military post in the country. Cadet training has taken place at the garrison since 1794, although Congress funding for a US Military Academy (USMA) didn’t start until 1802. The first female cadets were admitted to West Point in 1976, and as of 2018, about 15% of all new cadets were women.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Light touch from a decorator : ACCENT LAMP
11 Zabaglione base : EGGS
15 “That’s what my intuition was telling me” : I HAD A HUNCH
16 Wolfe of “Black Orchids” : NERO
17 Game-changing : MONUMENTAL
18 Old autocrat : TSAR
19 Floating junk : SPACE WASTE
20 Cutest of the litter, maybe : RUNT
21 Noise : ADO
22 Secretive group? : GLANDS
24 Jazz drummer Blakey : ART
26 City on the James River : RICHMOND
30 Boxer’s mouth piece? : SQUEAK TOY
32 Gender option on some surveys : OTHER
35 One committed to an orderly society? : NUN
36 Of no help : USELESS
38 French summer : ETE
39 Race-ready, in a way : LANED
41 Classical piece that’s the basis of the 1965 hit “A Lover’s Concerto” : MINUET IN G
43 Biometric reading : IRIS SCAN
45 GPS prediction : ETA
46 Last stop before leaving for vacation, perhaps : KENNEL
48 Racket of lamb : BAA!
50 Fad : RAGE
51 Doug Wright’s “I Am My Own Wife,” e.g. : ONE-MAN SHOW
58 Some fluffy slippers : UGGS
59 Dolphin kin : PILOT WHALE
60 Source of smoky notes in whiskey : PEAT
61 Uplifting historical figure? : ELISHA OTIS
62 Cornstarch brand : ARGO
63 Mythological swimmer : SEA SERPENT

Down

1 Targets : AIMS
2 Veal cut : CHOP
3 Veronese’s “The Wedding Feast at __” : CANA
4 Train conductors, say : EDUCATE
5 Tagged : NAMED
6 All available options : THE WORKS
7 __ Bar: nutritional snack : LUNA
8 Myrmecologist’s study : ANTS
9 Exam for future residents: Abbr. : MCAT
10 Physiological humor believed to cause sluggishness : PHLEGM
11 Competitor : ENTRANT
12 Response during allergy season : GESUNDHEIT
13 Majestic : GRAND
14 Out of __ : SORTS
23 Like some change : LOOSE
24 Cerulean kin : AQUA
25 Calvin’s increasingly outrageous snow art, in “Calvin and Hobbes,” e.g. : RUNNING GAG
27 Objects : ITEMS
28 Baby ailment : COLIC
29 Pet for Harley Quinn : HYENA
30 Ego Nwodim’s show, for short : SNL
31 Journalist Cornish : AUDIE
33 Italian volcano : ETNA
34 Rule, for short : REG
37 Go for the bronze? : SUNBATHE
40 Miranda whose case inspired the Miranda warning : ERNESTO
42 Place to pick up leaves : TEA SHOP
44 Pitches : SLOPES
46 Gene dubbed the “Founding Father of the Modern Drum Set” by Modern Drummer : KRUPA
47 Avid : EAGER
49 Nobelist Sadat : ANWAR
52 African flower? : NILE
53 Kazan with an honorary Oscar : ELIA
54 Flowerless plant : MOSS
55 Spike Lee’s “She __ Me” : HATE
56 “Chocolat” actress : OLIN
57 __ Point : WEST