LA Times Crossword 21 Nov 18, Wednesday

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Constructed by: C.C. Burnikel
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Reveal Answer: Start-Up Capital

Themed answers each START with a nation CAPITAL as a hidden word:

  • 37A. With 39-Across, seed money … or what 18-, 24-, 48- and 58-Across each has : START-UP …
  • 39A. See 37-Across : … CAPITAL
  • 18A. Church official : PARISH CLERK (starts with “PARIS”)
  • 24A. Vermont senator since 2007 : BERNIE SANDERS (starts with “BERN”)
  • 48A. “Thus with a kiss I die” speaker : ROMEO MONTAGUE (starts with “ROME”)
  • 58A. Baked pasta dish : RIGATONI PIE (starts with “RIGA”)

Bill’s time: 6m 13s

Bill’s errors: 0

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Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

4. Hindu philosophy : TANTRA

Tantrism (sometimes “Tantra”) is a relatively recent class of religious ritual and meditation that has its roots in 5th century India. The tantras are sometimes considered as advanced teachings that extend the basic tenets of several Indian religions including Buddhism and Hinduism.

16. Only state with a non-rectangular flag : OHIO

The flag of Ohio features a swallowtail, which makes it the only US state flag that isn’t rectangular.

18. Church official : PARISH CLERK (starts with “PARIS”)

The French capital of Paris is named for the Parisii, a Celtic Iron Age people that lived in the area on the banks of the River Seine.

22. Business abbr. : INC

A company that has incorporated uses the abbreviation “Inc.” after its name. By incorporating, a company forms a corporation, which is a legal entity that has legal rights similar to those of an individual. For example, a corporation can sue another corporation or individual. However, a corporation does not have all the rights of citizens. A corporation does not have the Fifth Amendment right of protections against self-incrimination, for example. It is perhaps understandable that the concept of “corporations as persons” is a frequent subject for debate.

23. Singer Mann : AIMEE

Aimee Mann is a rock singer and guitarist from Virginia. Mann is married to Michael Penn, the brother of actor Sean Penn.

24. Vermont senator since 2007 : BERNIE SANDERS (starts with “BERN”)

Bernie Sanders has served as US Senator from Vermont since 2007. Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist, and used to appear on the ballot as an independent. Prior to joining the Democratic Party in 2015, Sanders had been the longest-serving independent in the history of the US Congress.

Bern (sometimes “Berne”, especially in French) is the capital city of Switzerland. The official language of the city is German, but the language most spoken in Bern is a dialect known as Bernese German.

28. Gambling city on the Truckee : RENO

The Truckee River is the only outlet of the magnificent Lake Tahoe in the High Sierra of California/Nevada. The Truckee River flows northeast through Reno, Nevada and empties into Pyramid Lake.

29. Golden Delicious, e.g. : APPLE

The first Golden Delicious tree was found in a pasture field on a farm in West Virginia in the late 1800s. There were no other apple trees growing nearby, so the farmer left it to grow. The fruit proved to be popular and the farmer sold the tree to a local nursery. The nursery named the apple Golden Delicious to go along with the existing line of Red Delicious apples, even though the two varieties trees aren’t very closely related. The Golden Delicious is now the official fruit of West Virginia.

41. Jedi master with pointy ears : YODA

Yoda is one of the most beloved characters of the “Star Wars” series of films. Yoda’s voice is provided by the great modern-day puppeteer Frank Oz of “Muppets” fame.

42. Twaddle : ROT

Twaddle is a trivial talk, and is a word that has been around since the late 1700’s. The term probably evolved from the earlier “twattle” that had the same meaning.

45. Biting desert lizards : GILAS

A Gila monster is a venomous lizard found in the southwestern US and northern Mexico, and is the only venomous lizard native to America. Gila monsters move along at a snail’s pace so aren’t normally a danger to humans. The name “Gila” is a reference to the Gila River Basin in the American Southwest, where the Gila monster was prevalent.

48. “Thus with a kiss I die” speaker : ROMEO MONTAGUE (starts with “ROME”)

They drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

Juliet’s last words are:

Yea, noise? then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.

53. Amazon Echo’s voice assistant : ALEXA

Amazon’s Alexa is a personal assistant application that is most associated with the Amazon Echo smart speaker. Apparently, one reason the name “Alexa” was chosen is because it might remind one of the Library of Alexandria, the “keeper of all knowledge”.

58. Baked pasta dish : RIGATONI PIE (starts with “RIGA”)

Rigatoni is a tubular pasta that is relatively short, and with ridges along its length. The name “rigatoni” comes from the Italian “rigato” meaning “ridged, lined”.

62. “__ you alone?” : ARE

Nope.

63. Flood-anticipation precaution, briefly : EVAC

Evacuation (evac.)

66. Dollars for quarters : RENT

We use the term “quarters” for a place of abode, especially housing for military personnel. Back in the late 16th century, quarters were a portion (quarter) of a town reserved for a military force.

67. Word from a poser : CHEESE

Photographers often instruct us to say “cheese”, to elicit a smile-like expression. Even Japanese photographers use the word “cheese” for the same effect. Bulgarians use the word “zele” meaning “cabbage”. The Chinese say “eggplant”, the Danish “orange”, the Iranians “apple” and the most Latin Americans say “whiskey”.

Down

1. Folklore lumberjack Bunyan : PAUL

Paul Bunyan is a character of American myth; Bunyan is a skilled lumberjack, and has a sidekick called Babe the Blue Ox. Both Bunyan and Babe are gigantic in size.

5. Harlem Renaissance writer Locke : ALAIN

The author and philosopher Alain LeRoy Locke was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar, and studied in Oxford and Berlin. Years later, Locke was the philosophical architect of what became known as the Harlem Renaissance, and indeed is often referred to as the Harlem Renaissance’s “Dean”.

6. C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world : NARNIA

Apparently it’s not certain how C. S. Lewis came to choose Narnia as the name of the fantasy world featured in his series of children’s books, including “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. There was an ancient city in Umbria that the Romans called Narnia, but there is no evidence of a link.

7. Bench press beneficiary : TRICEPS

The triceps brachii muscle is found at the back of the upper arm. The muscle’s name translates to “three-headed arm muscle”, fitting as it is actually made up of three bundles of muscles.

8. White House’s 132: Abbr. : RMS

The White House was designed by an Irishman, I am proud to say. James Hoban from County Kilkenny emigrated to the US in his twenties, and won the design competition for the White House in 1792.

9. Firepit detritus : ASH

Detritus is the loose material that results from the process of erosion. The usage of the term has evolved to man any accumulated material or debris. “Detritus” is Latin for “a wearing away”.

13. Oxen connectors : YOKES

A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of animals so that they are forced to work together.

21. Nissan sedan : SENTRA

The Nissan Sentra is sold as the Nissan Sunny back in Japan.

25. Ginger or ginseng : ROOT

The word “ginseng” comes from a Chinese term meaning “man root”. The term is used as the root of ginseng is forked and is said to resemble the legs of a man.

28. __-Rooter : ROTO

The “Roto-Rooter” is an invention of Samuel Oscar Blanc. Blanc came up with the idea in 1933 after having to deal with a sewer line in his son’s apartment that was blocked with roots from a tree, a common problem. He put together his first version of the device using a washing machine motor, roller skate wheels and a steel cable. The “rotating rooter” snaked down the sewer line, and rotating blades at the tip of the cable cut through the troublesome roots. Blanc sold his machine for decades to people who set up their own drain clearing businesses. In 1980 the Blanc family sold the Roto-Rooter company to a Cincinnati concern that started buying up independent franchises that used the Roto-Rooter and created the national service with which we are familiar today. Oh, and my advice is, save yourself the cost of the service call and just rent a machine. That’s what I do …

30. “Gangnam Style” musician : PSY

“PSY” is the stage name of South Korean rapper Park Jae-sang. PSY became an international star when his 2102 music video “Gangnam Style” went viral on YouTube. That video had over 1 billion views on YouTube in about six months, making it the most viewed YouTube video clip of all time. I am not one of that billion …

31. Festival in the month of Adar : PURIM

Purim is a festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to wipe them out by Haman the Agagite, as recorded in the Book of Esther.

Adar is the twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. Adar is equivalent to February-March in the Gregorian calendar.

36. Caribou cousin : ELK

The elk (also known as “wapiti”) is the one of the largest species of deer in the world, with only the moose being bigger. Early European settlers were familiar with the smaller red deer back in their homelands, so when they saw the “huge” wapiti they assumed it was a moose, and incorrectly gave it the European name for a moose, namely “elk”. The more correct name for the beast is “wapiti”, which means “white rump” in Shawnee. It’s all very confusing …

“Caribou” is the North American name for “reindeer”.

38. Sport for equestrians : POLO

The sport of polo originated in Iran, possibly before the 5th century BC. Polo was used back them primarily as a training exercise for cavalry units.

40. Simon who co-wrote and co-starred in “Shaun of the Dead” : PEGG

Simon Pegg is an English actor and comedian who has hit the big time in Hollywood in the past few years. He played “Scotty” in a couple of “Star Trek” movies and tech wizard Benji Dunn in some of the “Mission: Impossible” films.

“Shaun of the Dead” is 2004 horror comedy movie starring English comic actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Written by Pegg and director Edgar Wright, “Shaun of the Dead” is the first in what’s known as their “Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy” of films, along with “”Hot Fuzz” (2007) and “The World’s End” (2013).

45. Nanny __ : GOAT

Male goats are called “bucks” or “billies”, although castrated males are known as “wethers”. Female goats are called “does” or “nannies”, and young goats are referred to as “kids”.

49. Salade niçoise morsel : OLIVE

A Niçoise salad is known as a “salade Niçoise” in its native France, where it was named for the city of Nice in the south of the country. The original contains no cooked vegetables, but here in North America there are almost always included some boiled potatoes.

50. Fox of “Transformers” : MEGAN

Megan Fox is an actress and model from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Fox’s big break as an actress came when she played the love interest of one of the male leads in the 2007 sci-fi movie “Transformers”. Frankly, I have no idea who she is …

The 2007 blockbuster hit movie “Transformers” was inspired by a line of toys. Toy transformers can be morphed from their mundane looking appearance as a vehicle or perhaps an animal, into a robotic action figure. Not a movie that I’ll be renting though …

52. “Until next time” : ADIOS

The term “adiós” is Spanish for “goodbye”. In the Spanish language, “adiós” comes from the phrase “a Dios vos acomiendo” meaning “I commend you to God”.

56. Cleveland’s lake : ERIE

Cleveland, Ohio was named after the man who led the team that surveyed the area prior to founding of the city. General Moses Cleaveland did his work in 1796 and then left Ohio, never to return again.

59. Tolkien monster : ORC

According to Tolkien, Orcs are small humanoids that live in his fantasy world of Middle-earth (also called “Mordor”). They are very ugly and dirty, and are fond of eating human flesh.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1. Plane engine housing : POD
4. Hindu philosophy : TANTRA
10. “Don’t leave” : STAY
14. Previously : AGO
15. Signals for firefighters : ALARMS
16. Only state with a non-rectangular flag : OHIO
17. Big beverage server : URN
18. Church official : PARISH CLERK (starts with “PARIS”)
20. “I’m game!” : LET’S!
22. Business abbr. : INC
23. Singer Mann : AIMEE
24. Vermont senator since 2007 : BERNIE SANDERS (starts with “BERN”)
28. Gambling city on the Truckee : RENO
29. Golden Delicious, e.g. : APPLE
30. Hosp. recovery area : POST-OP
32. Prepared : SET
33. Add to the staff : HIRE
37. With 39-Across, seed money … or what 18-, 24-, 48- and 58-Across each has : START-UP …
39. See 37-Across : … CAPITAL
41. Jedi master with pointy ears : YODA
42. Twaddle : ROT
44. Business losses, figuratively : RED INK
45. Biting desert lizards : GILAS
47. Buddhist temple bell : GONG
48. “Thus with a kiss I die” speaker : ROMEO MONTAGUE (starts with “ROME”)
53. Amazon Echo’s voice assistant : ALEXA
54. Youthful fellow : LAD
55. Difficult journey : TREK
58. Baked pasta dish : RIGATONI PIE (starts with “RIGA”)
62. “__ you alone?” : ARE
63. Flood-anticipation precaution, briefly : EVAC
64. Was nearly empty : RAN LOW
65. Fabric flaw : RIP
66. Dollars for quarters : RENT
67. Word from a poser : CHEESE
68. Thus far : YET

Down

1. Folklore lumberjack Bunyan : PAUL
2. Fantasy meanie : OGRE
3. “Chin up!” : DON’T BE SAD!
4. Touch lightly : TAP
5. Harlem Renaissance writer Locke : ALAIN
6. C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world : NARNIA
7. Bench press beneficiary : TRICEPS
8. White House’s 132: Abbr. : RMS
9. Firepit detritus : ASH
10. Three-dimensional : SOLID
11. __ park : THEME
12. Broadcaster : AIRER
13. Oxen connectors : YOKES
19. Stick for a walk : CANE
21. Nissan sedan : SENTRA
25. Ginger or ginseng : ROOT
26. Builder’s guideline, briefly : SPEC
27. Ring exchange place : ALTAR
28. __-Rooter : ROTO
30. “Gangnam Style” musician : PSY
31. Festival in the month of Adar : PURIM
33. Holed up : HID OUT
34. Travel plan : ITINERARY
35. Hit the bell : RANG
36. Caribou cousin : ELK
38. Sport for equestrians : POLO
40. Simon who co-wrote and co-starred in “Shaun of the Dead” : PEGG
43. Sun worshiper’s mark : TAN LINE
45. Nanny __ : GOAT
46. Bread or butter : STAPLE
48. Not so well-done : RARER
49. Salade niçoise morsel : OLIVE
50. Fox of “Transformers” : MEGAN
51. Precise : EXACT
52. “Until next time” : ADIOS
56. Cleveland’s lake : ERIE
57. Held on to : KEPT
59. Tolkien monster : ORC
60. “Don’t think so” : NAH
61. Little lamb’s mom : EWE

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