LA Times Crossword 24 Jul 22, Sunday

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Constructed by: Gary Larson & Amy Ensz
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme: The Old Switcheroo

Themed answers are common terms featuring either “PRO” or “CON”, but “PRO” has been switched with “CON” and vice versa:

  • 117A Both sides of an argument, and what have been switched to create the answers to the starred clues : PROS AND CONS
  • 23A *Truly unappetizing French dish? : GROSS CONFIT (from “gross profit”)
  • 25A *In favor of monetary penalties? : PRO-FINING (from “confining”)
  • 48A *Proposed bill? : A WORK IN CONGRESS (from “a work in progress”)
  • 67A *Source of talent for a major-league franchise? : PRO STABLE (from “constable”)
  • 71A *Opposed to medical treatment? : CON-CURING (from “procuring”)
  • 92A *Stall selling souvenirs on graduation day? : PROCESSION STAND (from “concession stand”)
  • 114A *Appeal from a jailhouse lawyer? : CON FILING (from “profiling”)

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

Bill’s time: 12m 49s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 “Dragnet” star Jack : WEBB

Jack Webb played Sergeant Joe Friday on “Dragnet” on both TV and radio … and what a voice he had! Off the screen, Webb was a lover of jazz, and he played the cornet. It was within the world of jazz that he met and fell in love with Julie London, the famous singer with “the smoky voice”. The couple married and had two kids together.

The TV detective show “Dragnet” opened up each episode with lines spoken by the character Sergeant Joe Friday:

This is the city, Los Angeles, California, I work here. I’m a cop.

In later series, the phrase “I’m a cop” was replaced with “I carry a badge”.

11 Big galoots : APES

“Galoot” is an insulting term describing an awkward or boorish man, an ape. “Galoot” comes from the nautical world, where it was originally what a sailor might call a soldier or marine.

19 Diva’s delivery : ARIA

The term “diva” comes to us from Latin via Italian. “Diva” is the feminine form of “divus” meaning “divine one”. The word is used in Italy to mean “goddess” or “fine lady”, and especially is applied to the prima donna in an opera. We often use the term to describe a singer with a big ego.

20 Albania neighbor : KOSOVO

The country name “Kosovo” is an adjectival form of the Serbian word “kos” meaning “blackbird”. The name commemorates the “field of the blackbirds”, the site of a 1389 battle between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire. The dispute over Kosovo technically dates back to the implosion of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The capital of Kosovo is Pristina.

23 *Truly unappetizing French dish? : GROSS CONFIT (from “gross profit”)

A confit is a meat that has been cooked and preserved in its own fat. “Confit” is a French word meaning “preserved”.

In a statement of accounts, gross profit is the difference between revenue from sales and the cost of making goods or providing a service. So-called fixed costs, i.e. overhead, payroll, taxes and interest payments, are not included in gross profits. When these fixed costs have been deducted, what is left is called the net profit, also known as “the bottom line”.

27 Ruhr Valley city : ESSEN

Essen is a large industrial city located on the River Ruhr in western Germany. The city experienced major population growth in the mid-1800s that was driven by the iron works established by the Krupp family.

30 Lhasa native : TIBETAN

Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, with the name “Lhasa” translating as “place of the gods”. However, Lhasa used to be called Rasa, a name that translates into the less auspicious “goat’s place”. Lhasa was also once called the “Forbidden City” due to its inaccessible location high in the Himalayas and a traditional hostility exhibited by residents to outsiders. The “forbidden” nature of the city has been reinforced since the Chinese took over Tibet in the early 1950s as it has been difficult for foreigners to get permission to visit Lhasa.

31 “The Optimist’s Daughter” Pulitzer winner Welty : EUDORA

Eudora Welty was an author from Jackson, Mississippi who wrote short stories and novels about the American South. Welty won a Pulitzer in 1973 for her novel “The Optimist’s Daughter”. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1980. The Eudora email system, once used by Mac and Windows operating systems, was named for Eudora Welty.

38 Snoopy adversary : RED BARON

Snoopy, the famous beagle in the “Peanuts” comic strip, has a number of alter-egos and is sometimes depicted as a World War I flying ace. Snoopy’s arch-enemy in the air is Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, and Snoopy can often be seen shaking his fist and crying out, “Curse you, Red Baron!”

42 Down source : EIDER

Eiders are large sea ducks. Their down feathers are used to fill pillows and quilts, giving the name to the quilt called an “eiderdown”.

52 __ fide: in bad faith : MALA

“Mala fide” is Latin for “in bad faith” and is in essence the opposite to “bona fide” meaning “in good faith”. Bad faith is a concept defined by the law that addresses the motives behind certain actions.

53 Honeycomb figures : HEXAGONS

Honeybees create a structure within their nests called a honeycomb that is used to contain their larvae and also to store honey and pollen. The honeycomb comprises hexagonal cells made from wax.

54 Actor Sheen : MARTIN

“Martin Sheen” is the stage name of actor Ramón Estévez. Despite all of his great performances, Sheen has never even been nominated for an Academy Award. Isn’t that something? I thought he was outstanding in his starring role in television’s “The West Wing”.

56 Left hanging : IN LIMBO

In the Roman Catholic tradition, “Limbo” is a place where souls can remain who cannot enter heaven. For example, infants who have not been baptized are said to reside in Limbo. Limbo is said to be located on the border of Hell. The name was chosen during the Middle Ages from the Latin “limbo” meaning “ornamental border to a fringe”. We use the phrase “in limbo” in contemporary English to mean “in a state of uncertainty”.

60 Animated short : CARTOON

The word “cartoon” was originally used for a “drawing on strong paper”, a durable drawing used as a model for a work of art. The term comes from the French word “carton” meaning “heavy paper, pasteboard”. Cartoons have been around a long time, with some of the most famous having been drawn by Leonardo da Vinci.

61 Lentil dish : DAL

I love dal dishes, which are prepared from various peas or beans (often lentils) that have been stripped of their outer skins and split. Dal is an important part of Indian cuisines. I suppose in Indian terms, split pea soup (another of my favorites) would be called a dal.

62 Cynthia Nixon’s role on “The Gilded Age” : ADA

“The Gilded Age” is a period drama created and written by Julian Fellowes, who also created the hit drama “Downton Abbey”. The former show is set in New York City in the 1880s, when the nation was enjoying an economic boom.

Actress Cynthia Nixon is probably best known for playing Miranda Hobbs on the TV show “Sex and the City”. While Nixon was my favorite actress in that show, my favorite of Nixon’s performances is in the 2005 TV movie “Warm Springs”, in which she takes on the role of Eleanor Roosevelt. Off screen, Nixon is very active in progressive politics. She made a very visible run for governor of New York in 2018.

73 __ Claire, Wisconsin : EAU

Eau Claire, Wisconsin is named for the Eau Claire River, which in turn was named by French explorers. The explorers had been traveling down the muddy Chippewa River and diverted into the clear water of what is now called the Eau Claire River. They exclaimed “Voici l’eau claire!” meaning “Here is clear water!” The French phrase “Voici l’eau claire” is now the city’s motto that appears on the city seal.

74 Platitude : TRUISM

A platitude is a banal or stale remark. The term “platitude” comes from the Old French “plat” meaning “flat”.

76 Bovine chew : CUD

Animals that chew the cud are called ruminants. Ruminants eat vegetable matter but cannot extract any nutritional value from cellulose without the help of microbes in the gut. Ruminants collect roughage in the first part of the alimentary canal, allowing microbes to work on it. The partially digested material (the cud) is regurgitated into the mouth so that the ruminant can chew the food more completely, exposing more surface area for microbes to do their work.

77 Load from a lode : ORE

A lode is a metal ore deposit that’s found between two layers of rock or in a fissure. The mother lode is the principal deposit in a mine, usually of gold or silver. “Mother lode” is probably a translation of “veta madre”, an expression used in mining in Mexico.

80 Violinist Leopold : AUER

Leopold Auer was a Hungarian violinist, as well as a conductor and composer. Auer wrote a small number of works for the violin, the most famous of which is the “Rhapsodie Hongroise” written for violin and piano.

82 Anka song with a Spanish title : ESO BESO

“Eso Beso” is Spanish for “That Kiss”, and is the title of a 1962 hit song recorded by Canadian-born singer Paul Anka.

86 Slowing down, musically: Abbr. : RITARD

Rit. (or sometimes ritard.) is the abbreviation for “ritardando”, a musical direction to slow down the tempo.

87 Cowardly Lion portrayer : BERT LAHR

The Cowardly Lion in L. Frank Baum’s “Land of Oz” books was portrayed by Bert Lahr in the celebrated 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz”. The costume that Lahr wore in the film was made from real lion fur, and weighed a whopping 60 pounds.

90 Eurasian range : URAL

The eastern side of the Ural Mountains in Russia and Kazakhstan is generally regarded as the natural divide between the continents of Europe and Asia.

91 Last name of both “Fargo” writers : COEN

I think it’s great to see two brothers working together and being so successful. Joel and Ethan Coen are two movie producers and directors who both live in New York City. The Coen brothers do love the movie-making business and they even married industry “insiders”. Ethan’s wife is film editor Tricia Cooke, and Joel is married to one of my favorite actresses, the talented Frances McDormand.

98 QB-to-receiver successes : TD PASSES

Touchdown (TD)

103 Nissan models : ALTIMAS

Nissan has been making the Altima since 1993. In 2007 the company started to produce a hybrid version, Nissan’s first foray into the hybrid market and a successful one by all accounts. Altima hybrids are even used as police cruisers by the New York Police Department.

107 Great Salt Lake state : UTAH

The largest salt pan located near the Great Salt Lake is the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. There is an area in the Flats called the Bonneville Speedway that is devoted to motor sports and is noted as a venue for numerous land speed records.

109 First name in skin care : ESTEE

Estée Lauder was a very successful businesswoman, and someone with a great reputation as a salesperson. Lauder introduced her own line of fragrances in 1953, a bath oil called “Youth Dew”. “Youth Dew” was marketed as a perfume, but it was added to bathwater. All of a sudden women were pouring whole bottles of Ms. Lauder’s “perfume” into their baths while using only a drop or two of French perfumes behind their ears. That’s quite a difference in sales volume …

121 “__ on First”: book about comedian Costello : LOU’S

Lou Costello was half of the Abbott & Costello double act. One tragic and terrible event in Lou Costello’s life was the death of his baby son, Lou Costello, Jr. Lou was at NBC studios one night for his regular broadcast when he received word that the 11-month-old baby had somehow drowned in the family swimming pool. With the words “Wherever he is tonight, I want him to hear me”, he made the scheduled broadcast in front of a live and unsuspecting audience.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made up the comedy duo Abbott and Costello who were immensely popular in the forties and fifties. Even when I was growing up in Ireland and knew nothing about baseball, I was rolling around the floor listening to Abbott and Costello’s famous “Who’s on First?” comedy routine. Can you name all the players?

First Base: Who
Second Base: What
Third Base: I Don’t Know
Left field: Why
Centerfield: Because
Pitcher: Tomorrow
Catcher: Today
Shortstop: I Don’t Care/I Don’t Give a Darn

122 Antioxidant berry : ACAI

Açaí (pronounced “ass-aye-ee”) is a palm tree native to Central and South America. The fruit has become very popular in recent years and its juice is a very fashionable addition to juice mixes and smoothies.

123 Czech currency : KORUNA

“Koruna” is a word in some Slavic languages meaning “crown,” and is used as the name of several obsolete European currencies. The Czech koruna is the only currency still in use that uses the name.

124 Aardvark meal : ANTS

The aardvark is the oddest looking of creatures, and a nocturnal burrowing animal that is native to Africa. Even though it is sometimes called the African ant bear, the name “aardvark” is Afrikaans for “earth pig”. Aardvarks are noted, among other things, for their unique teeth. Their teeth have no enamel and wear away quite readily, but continuously regrow. The aardvark feeds mainly on ants and termites.

126 “Gin and Juice” rapper Snoop __ : DOGG

Rap star Snoop Dogg’s real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus. He is the most famous protege of the notorious rapper Dr. Dre. Sadly, Snoop Dogg has had numerous run-ins with police all round the world, even after he started to live the good life that came with his fame. Snoop Dogg has also been known as “Snoop Doggy Dogg”, and more recently as “Snoop Lion”.

128 Sushi bar soup : MISO

Miso is the name of the seasoning that makes miso soup. Basic miso seasoning is made by fermenting rice, barley and soybeans with salt and a fungus to produce a paste. The paste can be added to stock to make miso soup, or perhaps to flavor tofu.

Down

1 Minimum __ : WAGE

The minimum wage was set by the US federal government in 2020 at $7.25/hour. Adjusting for inflation, the minimum wage was about $10/hour back in 1968.

2 Commits a faux pas : ERRS

The term “faux pas” is French in origin, and translates literally as “false step” (or “false steps”, as the plural has the same spelling in French).

5 Pedigree org. : AKC

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is the organization that handles registration of purebred dogs The AKC also promotes dog shows around the country, including the famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

6 Holstein sound : MOO!

The Holstein Friesian breed of cattle originated in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands and in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The breed is very common on dairy farms all over the world, and is the one with the black and white markings. Holstein Friesians are usually referred to as “Holsteins” in North America, and as “Friesians” in Britain and Ireland. Go figure …

9 “A New Argentina” musical : EVITA

“Evita” was the follow-up musical to “Jesus Christ Superstar” for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Both of these works were originally released as album musicals, and very successful ones at that (I remember buying them when they first came out). “Evita” was made into a film in 1996, with Madonna playing the title role and Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce playing her husband Juan Perón.

11 Concert device : AMP

An electric guitar, for example, needs an amplifier (amp) to take the weak signal created by the vibration of the strings and turn it into a signal powerful enough for a loudspeaker.

13 Hams : EMOTERS

The word “ham”, describing a performer who overacts, is a shortened form of “hamfatter” and dates back to the late 1800s. “Hamfatter” comes from a song in old minstrel shows called “The Ham-Fat Man”. It seems that a poorly performing actor was deemed to have the “acting” qualities of a minstrel made up in blackface.

14 “Modern Family” actress Vergara : SOFIA

Sofía Vergara is an actress and model from Barranquilla, Colombia who is perhaps best known from playing Gloria on the hit TV sitcom “Modern Family”. In 2016, “Forbes” magazine reported that Vergara was the highest paid actress on television.

15 Ecru kin : BONE

The color ecru is a grayish, yellowish brown. The word “ecru” comes from French and means “raw, unbleached”. “Ecru” has the same roots as our word “crude”.

17 Chlumsky of “Veep” : ANNA

Anna Chlumsky launched her career as a child actress playing the title role in the films “My Girl” (1991) and “My Girl 2” (1994). After taking time out to attend college, Chlumsky resumed her run of success with a regular role in the political satire show “Veep”.

“Veep” is a political satire sitcom on HBO that is a remake of the British show “The Thick of It” (Warning: strong language!). “Veep” is set in the office of fictional US Vice President Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

26 Some early PCs : IBMS

The original IBM Personal Computer is model number 5150, which was introduced to the world on August 12, 1981. The term “personal computer” was already in use, but the success of the IBM 5150 led to the term “PC” being used for all computer products compatible with the IBM platform.

32 New England sch. : URI

The University of Rhode Island (URI) was chartered as an agricultural school back in 1888. Rhody the Ram was chosen as the school’s mascot in 1923, a nod to URI’s agricultural past. As a result, the school’s sports teams are known as the Rams. URI’s main campus today is located in the village of Kingston, with smaller campuses in Providence, Narragansett and West Greenwich.

33 “Tiny Bubbles” singer : DON HO

“Tiny Bubbles” was the signature song of singer and entertainer Don Ho. Written by Leon Pober, the song was intended for Lawrence Welk, but the famous bandleader turned it down.

34 First word of “The Raven” : ONCE …

The first verse of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”

36 Yemeni port : ADEN

Aden is a seaport in Yemen that is located on the Gulf of Aden by the eastern approach to the Red Sea. Aden has a long history of British rule, from 1838 until a very messy withdrawal in 1967. A native of Aden is known as an Adeni. Some believe that Cain and Abel are buried in the city.

37 “Rizzoli & Isles” crime series novelist Gerritsen : TESS

“Rizzoli & Isles” is a detective drama that is inspired by the “Maura Isles/Jane Rizzoli” series of novels by Tess Gerritsen. In the show, Angie Harmon plays detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander plays medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles.

38 “Bohemian Rhapsody” Oscar winner Malek : RAMI

Actor Rami Malek’s big break came with the leading role in the television series “Mr. Robot”. In 2018, Malik gave an Oscar-winning performance playing Freddie Mercury in the hit biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. That marked the first time that an actor of Egyptian descent won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is an outstanding 2018 film about the life of Freddie Mercury, lead singer with the British rock band Queen. Rami Malek portrayed Mercury, in an Oscar-winning performance. The original choice to play Mercury was Sacha Baron Cohen, the title character in the “Borat” mockumentary films.

39 Actor McGregor : EWAN

Ewan McGregor is a very talented Scottish actor, one who got his break in the 1996 film “Trainspotting”. McGregor’s first big Hollywood role was playing the young Obi-Wan-Kenobi in the “Star Wars” prequels. Less known is his televised marathon motorcycle journey from London to New York via central Europe, Ukraine, Siberia, Mongolia and Canada. The 2004 trip was shown as “Long Way Round” on TV. McGregor did a similar trip in 2007 called “Long Way Down”, which took him and the same traveling companion from the north of Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa.

40 American Girl product : DOLL

American Girl is a line of dolls introduced in 1986. The dolls were originally young girls dressed in clothes that evoked various periods of American history.

42 Frozen waffle brand : EGGO

Eggo is a line of frozen waffles and related products made by Kellogg’s. When they were introduced in the 1930s, the name “Eggo” was chosen to promote the “egginess” of the batter. “Eggo” replaced “Froffles”, the original name chosen by melding “frozen” and “waffles”.

44 Sabrina portrayer Melissa Joan __ : HART

Actress Melissa Joan Hart is perhaps best known for portraying the title character on the long-running TV show “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. Hart was beyond her teenage years when the show first aired in 1996 (she was 20), and the original run lasted for seven years.

45 Squid relatives : OCTOPI

Octopodes and squid have the ability to release a dark pigment into the water as a means of escape. The dark pigment is called cephalopod ink (the squid and octopus belong to the class cephalopoda) and is stored in an ink sac. The dark color is created by melanin, the same substance that acts as a pigment in human skin.

46 Resident of Lima, Lisbon, or Athens : OHIOAN

Lima is a city located in northwestern Ohio, about 70 miles north of Dayton. The city is home to the Lima Army Tank Plant, where the M1 Abrams battle tank is produced. Lima is also home to the fictional William McKinley High School that is the setting for the TV series “Glee”.

Lisbon is a village in eastern Ohio. It is the county seat of Columbiana County. The county is named for Christopher Columbus, and the village for the capital of Portugal, and the city where Columbus was based for many years. One of Lisbon, Ohio’s claims to fame is that it was home to the invention of the modern drinking straw.

Athens is a city in southeastern Ohio. Ohio became a US state in 1803, and Ohio University was chartered the following year, in 1804. Athens County was formed in 1805, and named for the Greek center of learning. Ohio University opened for students in 1809, and the village surrounding the school was incorporated as Athens village in 1811.

47 Big name in smooth jazz : KENNY G

Saxophonist Kenny G’s full name is Kenneth Bruce Gorelick. Kenny’s “G” might also stand for “golfer”, as in 2006 he was ranked by “Golf Digest” magazine as the number-one golfer working in the field of music.

49 Lime and rust : OXIDES

Lime is a mineral comprising mainly calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide. Calcium oxide is known as quicklime, and calcium hydroxide as slaked lime.

Rust is iron oxide. Rust forms when iron oxidizes, reacts with oxygen.

50 Astronaut’s insignia : NASA

The official insignia of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is referred to as a “meatball”. It is round in shape, with white stars on a blue background. There is also a white orbital path, a red chevron, and the letters NASA in white.

54 Bongbong of the Philippines : MARCOS

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. became the 17th President of the Philippines in 2022. Bongbong’s father was Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the nation’s 10th president. His mother was former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

55 Conductor Toscanini : ARTURO

Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor who took up the baton for the first time under sensational circumstances in 1886. He was attending a performance of “Aida” in Rio de Janeiro in the role of assistant chorus master, on a night when a substitute conductor was leading the orchestra. The substitute was in charge because the lead conductor had been forced to step down by striking performers who would not work with him. The disgruntled lead conductor led the audience in booing the unfortunate substitute, forcing him off the stage. Yet another substitute attempted to lead the performance, but he could not overcome the hostility of the crowd. The musicians themselves begged Toscanini to take up the baton, for the first time in his life, and simply because he knew the score by heart. After over an hour of mayhem, Toscanini led the company in a remarkable performance to marvelous acclaim. He had just launched his conducting career.

62 Boxer Muhammad : ALI

“The Muhammad Ali Center” is a museum in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The center was opened in 2005 and explores the life of the champion boxer and features exhibitions that reflect Ali’s core values. I’m a real “museumphile”, and so was thrilled to be able to visit the Muhammad Ali Center a few years ago. Sadly, I found that this one missed the mark somehow …

64 Honda luxury cars : ACURAS

Acura is the luxury brand of the Honda Motor Company. As an aside, Infiniti is the equivalent luxury brand for the Nissan Motor Company, and Lexus is the more luxurious version of Toyota’s models.

67 Guy of “Memento” : PEARCE

Guy Pearce is an Australian actor (actually born in England) who got his break playing in the Aussie soap opera “Neighbours”. I remember him playing drag queen Felicia Jollygoodfellow in the entertaining Australian film “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994). He also appeared in several hit American movies, such as “L.A. Confidential”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Time Machine”.

“Memento” is a 2000 mystery movie with an interesting storyline. Guy Pearce stars as a man suffering from short-term memory loss after an attack by two men who raped and killed his wife. He searches for the killers, and is forced to use tattoos and polaroids to track information that he knows he will not recall.

75 Mime Marcel : MARCEAU

Marcel Marceau was the most famous mime of all time, and a native of Strasbourg in France. He is perhaps most associated with the character Bip the Clown who he played onstage. Marceau made a cameo appearance in Mel Brooks’ “Silent Movie”, portraying himself. In the scene, Mel Brooks is asking Marceau to appear in his movie (a question asked silently of course, in subtitles), and Marceau turns to the camera and speaks the only word in the whole film, “Non!” (French for “No!”). The mime speaks! Brilliant …

76 Collectible frames : CELS

In the world of animation, a cel is a transparent sheet on which objects and characters are drawn. In the first half of the 20th century the sheet was actually made of celluloid, giving the “cel” its name.

85 Auto pioneer : OLDS

Ransom Eli Olds was a pioneer in the automotive industry, and the founder of the Oldsmobile and REO brands. Olds introduced the first modern “stationary” assembly line (Henry Ford’s famous innovation was the “moving” assembly line). As a result, it can be argued that the Oldsmobile Curved Dash was the first mass-produced, low-priced automobile, rather than Ford’s Model T.

87 Verve : BRIO

“Brio” is borrowed from Italian, in which language the term means “vigor and vivacity”. “Con brio” is a musical direction often found on a score, instructing the musicians to play “with energy, vigor”.

88 A dog’s age : EONS

The phrase “a dog’s age”, meaning “a long time”, is a reference to the typical lifetime of a dog, namely 10-15 years.

92 Soft drink giant : PEPSICO

The manufacturers of Frito and Lay potato chips merged to form Frito-Lay in 1961. Frito-Lay then merged with Pepsi-Cola in 1965 to form PepsiCo.

93 Scott Simon’s network : NPR

Scott Simon is a broadcast journalist who started hosting NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday” way back in 1985. He joined NPR as Chicago bureau chief in 1977.

96 “Sorry Not Sorry” singer Lovato : DEMI

Pop and R&B singer Demi Lovato started her performing career as a child actress, playing Angela on the kids TV show “Barney & Friends” from 2002 to 2004. When she was all grown up, Levato served as a judge on “The X Factor” from 2012 to 2013, and soon after had the recurring role of Dani on “Glee”.

100 Bowl of greens : SALAD

Our word “salad” comes from the Latin “salare” meaning “to salt”. The Latin “herba salata” translates as “salted vegetables”, which I guess could be a salad …

101 Composer Copland : AARON

Aaron Copland was the most American of all classical composers, I think. Perhaps his most famous work is the “Fanfare for the Common Man”. The piece was written in 1942 and was intended to be uplifting in the gloomy years leading up to WWII. “Fanfare” is recognized not just for performances of the original, but also for the progressive rock version that was recorded by Emerson, Lake & Palmer in 1977.

103 Anti-censorship org. : ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has its roots in the First World War. It grew out of the National Civil Liberties Bureau (CLB) that was founded to provide legal advice and support to conscientious objectors. The ACLU’s motto is “Because Freedom Can’t Protect Itself”. The ACLU also hosts a blog on the ACLU.org website called “Speak Freely”.

The original “censor” was an officer in ancient Rome who had responsibility for taking the “census”, as well as supervising public morality.

108 Toll rd. : TPKE

Back in the 15th century, a turnpike (tpk., trke.) was a defensive barrier across a road. By the 17th century the term was used for a barrier that stopped travelers until a toll was paid. By the 18th century a turnpike was the name given to a road with a toll.

110 Bogus offer : SCAM

Our word “bogus”, meaning “not genuine” was coined (pun!) in the 1830s, when it applied to counterfeit money.

111 “Beloved” novelist Morrison : TONI

“Beloved” is a 1998 movie based on the Pulitzer-winning novel by Toni Morrison. Oprah, who produced the film, stars opposite Danny Glover.

112 Sinus docs : ENTS

The ear, nose and throat (ENT) branch of medicine is more correctly called “otolaryngology”.

In anatomical terms, a sinus is a cavity in tissue. Sinuses are found all over the body, in the kidney and heart for example, but we most commonly think of the paranasal sinuses that surround the nose.

113 Exxon’s original brand name : ESSO

The Esso brand has its roots in the old Standard Oil company as it uses the initial letters of “Standard” and “Oil” (ESS-O). The Esso brand was replaced by Exxon in the US, but ESSO is still used in many other countries.

115 Badger : NAG

To badger is to harass. The verb “to badger” comes from the cruel practice of badger-baiting, which dates back to medieval times. Badger-baiting is a blood sport in which a dog is used as bait for a badger in its den, to draw it out into the open. The den is an artificial structure built to resemble a natural badgers’ den, complete with a tunnel entrance. The dog is sent down the tunnel causing the badger and dog to lock their jaws on each other. The badger and dog are then removed from the den by pulling on the dog’s tail. Horrible …

116 Band booking : GIG

Musicians use “gig” to describe a job, a performance. The term originated in the early 1900s in the world of jazz. The derivative phrase “gig economy” applies to a relatively recent phenomenon where workers find themselves jumping from temporary job to temporary job, from gig to gig.

118 __ La Table: kitchenware retailer : SUR

Sur La Table is a chain of retail stores selling high-end kitchenware products. The company name translates from French as “on the table”. The first Sur La Table store opened in 1972 in Seattle’s celebrated Pike Place Market. Today, Sur La Table is the main competitor to Williams-Sonoma.

119 Director Lee : ANG

Taiwanese director Ang Lee sure has directed a mixed bag of films, mixed in terms of genre but not in terms of quality. He was at the helm for such classics as “Sense & Sensibility” (my personal favorite), “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Hulk”, “Brokeback Mountain” and “Life of Pi”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 “Dragnet” star Jack : WEBB
5 Got to laugh : AMUSED
11 Big galoots : APES
15 Feathery scarves : BOAS
19 Diva’s delivery : ARIA
20 Albania neighbor : KOSOVO
21 Office note : MEMO
22 Luxury hotel chain : OMNI
23 *Truly unappetizing French dish? : GROSS CONFIT (from “gross profit”)
25 *In favor of monetary penalties? : PRO-FINING (from “confining”)
27 Ruhr Valley city : ESSEN
28 On : ATOP
30 Lhasa native : TIBETAN
31 “The Optimist’s Daughter” Pulitzer winner Welty : EUDORA
35 Group in the minors : AA TEAM
38 Snoopy adversary : RED BARON
42 Down source : EIDER
43 Quaked : SHOOK
48 *Proposed bill? : A WORK IN CONGRESS (from “a work in progress”)
51 Dull pain : ACHE
52 __ fide: in bad faith : MALA
53 Honeycomb figures : HEXAGONS
54 Actor Sheen : MARTIN
56 Left hanging : IN LIMBO
59 “Time __ the essence” : IS OF
60 Animated short : CARTOON
61 Lentil dish : DAL
62 Cynthia Nixon’s role on “The Gilded Age” : ADA
63 Some tribute pieces : FAN ART
66 Salary : PAY
67 *Source of talent for a major-league franchise? : PRO STABLE (from “constable”)
71 *Opposed to medical treatment? : CON-CURING (from “procuring”)
73 __ Claire, Wisconsin : EAU
74 Platitude : TRUISM
76 Bovine chew : CUD
77 Load from a lode : ORE
78 Moving right along : AT SPEED
80 Violinist Leopold : AUER
82 Anka song with a Spanish title : ESO BESO
86 Slowing down, musically: Abbr. : RITARD
87 Cowardly Lion portrayer : BERT LAHR
90 Eurasian range : URAL
91 Last name of both “Fargo” writers : COEN
92 *Stall selling souvenirs on graduation day? : PROCESSION STAND (from “concession stand”)
95 Fizzled out : ENDED
97 German pronoun : EINES
98 QB-to-receiver successes : TD PASSES
99 Wife, in Spanish : ESPOSA
101 Declare : ASSERT
103 Nissan models : ALTIMAS
107 Great Salt Lake state : UTAH
109 First name in skin care : ESTEE
114 *Appeal from a jailhouse lawyer? : CON FILING (from “profiling”)
117 Both sides of an argument, and what have been switched to create the answers to the starred clues : PROS AND CONS
121 “__ on First”: book about comedian Costello : LOU’S
122 Antioxidant berry : ACAI
123 Czech currency : KORUNA
124 Aardvark meal : ANTS
125 As many as : UP TO
126 “Gin and Juice” rapper Snoop __ : DOGG
127 Verve : ENERGY
128 Sushi bar soup : MISO

Down

1 Minimum __ : WAGE
2 Commits a faux pas : ERRS
3 Life stories : BIOS
4 Military outpost : BASE
5 Pedigree org. : AKC
6 Holstein sound : MOO!
7 Admiral’s org. : USN
8 As yet : SO FAR
9 “A New Argentina” musical : EVITA
10 Inflict on : DO TO
11 Concert device : AMP
12 Pay-__-view : PER
13 Hams : EMOTERS
14 “Modern Family” actress Vergara : SOFIA
15 Ecru kin : BONE
16 Drop : OMIT
17 Chlumsky of “Veep” : ANNA
18 Omen : SIGN
24 Move stealthily : SNEAK
26 Some early PCs : IBMS
29 Form couples : PAIR OFF
32 New England sch. : URI
33 “Tiny Bubbles” singer : DON HO
34 First word of “The Raven” : ONCE …
36 Yemeni port : ADEN
37 “Rizzoli & Isles” crime series novelist Gerritsen : TESS
38 “Bohemian Rhapsody” Oscar winner Malek : RAMI
39 Actor McGregor : EWAN
40 American Girl product : DOLL
41 Intertwines : BRAIDS
42 Frozen waffle brand : EGGO
44 Sabrina portrayer Melissa Joan __ : HART
45 Squid relatives : OCTOPI
46 Resident of Lima, Lisbon, or Athens : OHIOAN
47 Big name in smooth jazz : KENNY G
49 Lime and rust : OXIDES
50 Astronaut’s insignia : NASA
54 Bongbong of the Philippines : MARCOS
55 Conductor Toscanini : ARTURO
57 Be relevant : MATTER
58 Sounded loudly : BLARED
60 Recycle bin item : CAN
62 Boxer Muhammad : ALI
64 Honda luxury cars : ACURAS
65 Doze : NOD
67 Guy of “Memento” : PEARCE
68 Allocate : RATION
69 Got rid of : OUSTED
70 Pal : BUD
72 Counters : REBUTS
75 Mime Marcel : MARCEAU
76 Collectible frames : CELS
79 Glazier’s item : PANE
81 Sport-__: versatile vehicles : UTES
82 Lose ground? : ERODE
83 Noted times : ERAS
84 All there : SANE
85 Auto pioneer : OLDS
87 Verve : BRIO
88 A dog’s age : EONS
89 Chart toppers : HITS
92 Soft drink giant : PEPSICO
93 Scott Simon’s network : NPR
94 Filled : SATED
96 “Sorry Not Sorry” singer Lovato : DEMI
100 Bowl of greens : SALAD
101 Composer Copland : AARON
102 Land by the sea : SHORE
103 Anti-censorship org. : ACLU
104 Belt holder : LOOP
105 Fastener with flanges : T-NUT
106 “Should that be the case … ” : IF SO …
108 Toll rd. : TPKE
110 Bogus offer : SCAM
111 “Beloved” novelist Morrison : TONI
112 Sinus docs : ENTS
113 Exxon’s original brand name : ESSO
115 Badger : NAG
116 Band booking : GIG
118 __ La Table: kitchenware retailer : SUR
119 Director Lee : ANG
120 Anti vote : NAY