LA Times Crossword Answers 17 Jul 2018, Tuesday

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Constructed by: Craig Stowe
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Reveal Answer: Flip Sides

Themed answers are bounded by the letters FLIP:

  • 63A. Opposites, and what the answers to starred clues literally contain : FLIP SIDES
  • 17A. *Air Force topper : FLIGHT CAP
  • 24A. *Subconscious revelation : FREUDIAN SLIP
  • 39A. *Solution for an itchy Spot? : FLEA DIP
  • 52A. *Escapes : FLIES THE COOP

Bill’s time: 5m 48s

Bill’s errors: 0

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Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

14. When doubled, a fish : MAHI

“Mahi-mahi” is the Hawaiian name for the dolphin-fish, also called a dorado. The mahi-mahi is an ugly looking creature if ever I saw one …

20. Creator of the Hundred Acre Wood : MILNE

Hundred Acre Wood is where Winnie-the-Pooh lives with his friends. According to a map illustrating the books by A. A. Milne, Hundred Acre Wood is part of a larger forest, with Owl’s house sitting right at the center.

21. Onetime comm. giant : ITT

International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT) was formed in 1920 from the Puerto Rico Telephone Company. ITT divested its telecommunications business in 1986, today the company is known for its products in the field of water and fluids management, as well motion and flow control. Many of ITT’s products are sold into the aerospace market.

24. *Subconscious revelation : FREUDIAN SLIP

A Freudian slip is a error that is interpreted as being due to an unconscious wish for the same outcome. Named for psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, the “slip” is also called a parapraxis.

31. __ brûlée: custard dessert : CREME

Crème brûlée is a classic French dessert consisting of a rich custard topped with a crusty layer of caramelized sugar. The name “crème brûlée” translates from French as “burnt cream”.

39. *Solution for an itchy Spot? : FLEA DIP

Fleas are flightless insects, but they sure can jump. Their very specialized hind legs allow them to jump up to 50 times the length of their bodies.

42. __-Magnon : CRO

Remains of early man, dating back to 35,000 years ago, were found in Abri de Cro-Magnon in southwest France, giving the name to those early humans. Cro-Magnon remains are the oldest human relics that have been discovered in Europe.

46. Woman in a family tree : AUNT

I hope she doesn’t fall out of it …

47. Armada : FLEET

The most famous armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England in order to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I in 1588. It failed in its mission, partly due to bad weather encountered en route. Ironically, the English mounted a similar naval attack against Spain the following year, and it failed as well.

50. Eurasian grasslands : STEPPES

A steppe is a grassland that is devoid of trees, apart from those growing near rivers and lakes. The term “steppe” is Russian in origin, and is used to describe the geographical feature that extends across Eurasia. In South Africa, the same feature is called a “veld”, and in North America it is called a “prairie”.

52. *Escapes : FLIES THE COOP

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 that word today.

57. Cacophony : NOISE

“Cacophony” is such a lovely word, a word used to describe a harsh or jarring sound. The term arises from the Greek “kakos” (bad) and “phone” (voice).

66. Ford replaced him as VP : AGNEW

Spiro Agnew served as Vice-President under Richard Nixon, before becoming the only VP in American history to resign because of criminal charges (there was a bribery scandal). Agnew was also the first Greek-American to serve as US Vice President as he was the son of a Greek immigrant who had shortened the family name from Anagnostopoulos.

Gerald Ford was the only person to have served as both Vice President and President of the US, without having been elected to those positions. Ford was nominated by President Richard Nixon to replace Vice President Spiro Agnew after he resigned in 1973. Vice President Ford assumed the presidency the following year after President Nixon resigned.

68. Daily paper material : NEWS

Even though the word “news” uses the initial letters from the directions north, east, west and south, it’s not an acronym. “News” actually comes from the singular “new”. Back in the 14th-century, “news” were “new things”.

70. Underworld river : STYX

The River Styx in Greek mythology was the river that formed the boundary between the Earth and the Underworld (or “Hades”). The souls of the newly dead had to cross the River Styx in a ferry boat piloted by Charon. Traditionally, a coin would be placed in the mouths of the dead “to pay the ferryman”.

Down

1. Radio switch : AM/FM

In telecommunications, a radio signal is transmitted using a sinusoidal carrier wave. Information is transmitted using this carrier wave in two main ways, by varying (modulating) the instantaneous amplitude (signal strength) of the carrier wave, and by modulating the instantaneous frequency of the carrier wave. The former is referred to as an AM signal (“amplitude modulation”), and the latter as an FM signal (“frequency modulation”).

2. Landlocked African country : MALI

The Republic of Mali is a landlocked country in western Africa located south of Algeria. Formerly known as French Sudan, the nation’s most famous city is Timbuktu. Mali is the third-largest producer of gold on the continent, after South Africa and Ghana.

3. Three-time Masters champ Mickelson : PHIL

Phil Mickelson is one of the most famous left-handed golfers currently playing on the PGA Tour. Less well known is the fact that outside of golf, he is right-handed. Despite his great success as a golfer, the US Open championship has always eluded him. He has finished runner-up six times, more times than any other player.

7. Kilt pattern : PLAID

Tartan is sometimes called “plaid” over here in the US, and is a word not used in the same sense outside of this country. In Scotland a “plaid” is a blanket or a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder.

8. __ tank : SEPTIC

A septic tank is a sewage system that resides locally beside a house, on the property i.e. “on-lot”.

10. Deep divides : SCHISMS

A schism is a split or a division, especially in a religion.

11. Hockey trophy : STANLEY CUP

The Stanley Cup is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893. Lord Stanley’s sons became avid fans of ice hockey while in Canada, and so he donated the trophy in 1909, originally as a challenge cup for the country’s best amateur club.

12. Purple-haired twin on “The Simpsons” : TERRI

Sherri and Terri Mackleberry are identical twin sisters on “The Simpsons” television show. They are classmates of Bart Simpson, and their father is Homer’s supervisor at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.

18. German gent : HERR

In German, a “Herr” (Mr.) is married to a “Frau” (Mrs.), and they live together in a “Haus” (house).

26. Peter Fonda’s beekeeper : ULEE

“Ulee’s Gold” is a highly respected film from 1997 in which Peter Fonda plays the title role of Ulee. Ulee’s “gold” is the honey that Ulee produces. It is a favorite role for Peter Fonda and he has shared that playing Ulee brought to mind his father Henry Fonda, who himself kept a couple of hives. So if you see Peter Fonda in “Ulee’s Gold” you’re witnessing some characteristics that Peter saw in his father.

27. Tide type : NEAP

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on the oceans. At neap tide, the smaller gravitational effect of the sun cancels out some of the moon’s effect. At spring tide, the sun and the moon’s gravitational forces act in concert causing more extreme movement of the oceans.

36. Shore bird : ERNE

The ern (sometimes “erne”) is also called the white-tailed eagle or the sea-eagle.

40. Part of DJ : DISC

The world’s first radio disc jockey (DJ) was one Ray Newby of Stockton, California who made his debut broadcast in 1909, would you believe? When he was 16 years old and a student, Newby started to play his records on a primitive radio located in the Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless in San Jose. The records played back then were mostly recordings of Enrico Caruso.

53. Jessica of “American Horror Story” : LANGE

The actress Jessica Lange is also an accomplished and published photographer. She was married for ten years to Spanish photographer Paco Grande. After separating from Grande, Lange was partnered with the great Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, with whom she had her first child.

“American Horror Story” is a horror television show … I don’t do horror.

54. Panache : ECLAT

“Éclat” can mean a brilliant show of success, or the applause or accolade that one receives. The word derives from the French “éclater” meaning “to splinter, burst out”.

Someone exhibiting panache is showing dash and verve, and perhaps has a swagger. “Panache” is a French word used for a plume of feathers, especially in a hat.

60. To be, to Brutus : ESSE

The most famous man with the name “Brutus” in Ancient Rome was Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger. It was this Brutus that Julius Caesar turned to when he was assassinated on the steps of the Senate. William Shakespeare immortalized Brutus by featuring him in his play, “Julius Caesar”, and giving his victim the line “Et tu, Brute?”

65. Quaint curse : POX

A “pock” is an eruptive mark on the skin, usually caused by an infectious disease. The Middle English plural form “pokkes” gave rise to our term “pox”.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1. Excites, with “up” : AMPS
5. Programs opened with a fingertip : APPS
9. Furtive attention-getters : PSSTS
14. When doubled, a fish : MAHI
15. Computer folder item : FILE
16. Musical eightsome : OCTET
17. *Air Force topper : FLIGHT CAP
19. Go halfsies : SHARE
20. Creator of the Hundred Acre Wood : MILNE
21. Onetime comm. giant : ITT
23. Concerning : IN RE
24. *Subconscious revelation : FREUDIAN SLIP
28. Unethical : IMMORAL
31. __ brûlée: custard dessert : CREME
32. Wild hog : BOAR
33. Excite, with “up” : REV
35. Up to now : AS YET
38. Pipe shape : ELL
39. *Solution for an itchy Spot? : FLEA DIP
42. __-Magnon : CRO
43. Honking birds : GEESE
45. Cookie container : TIN
46. Woman in a family tree : AUNT
47. Armada : FLEET
50. Eurasian grasslands : STEPPES
52. *Escapes : FLIES THE COOP
55. Beat really fast : RACE
56. “Gimme a __” : SEC
57. Cacophony : NOISE
61. Not up to the task : INEPT
63. *Opposites, and what the answers to starred clues literally contain : FLIP SIDES
66. Ford replaced him as VP : AGNEW
67. Folded Tex-Mex treat : TACO
68. Daily paper material : NEWS
69. Back in style : RETRO
70. Underworld river : STYX
71. Stun with a police gun : TASE

Down

1. Radio switch : AM/FM
2. Landlocked African country : MALI
3. Three-time Masters champ Mickelson : PHIL
4. Formally accept, as a delivery : SIGN FOR
5. Toward the stern : AFT
6. Camera shot : PIC
7. Kilt pattern : PLAID
8. __ tank : SEPTIC
9. Neg. opposite : POS
10. Deep divides : SCHISMS
11. Hockey trophy : STANLEY CUP
12. Purple-haired twin on “The Simpsons” : TERRI
13. Brew : STEEP
18. German gent : HERR
22. Shingle sealant : TAR
25. Royal wedding guest, perhaps : EARL
26. Peter Fonda’s beekeeper : ULEE
27. Tide type : NEAP
28. “__ your pardon” : I BEG
29. Spy story staple : MOLE
30. Like evildoers : MALEFICENT
34. Laundry tub : VAT
36. Shore bird : ERNE
37. Youngsters : TOTS
39. Charges for members : FEES
40. Part of DJ : DISC
41. Really enjoying, as a hobby : INTO
44. Unexpected hit : SLEEPER
46. Name officially, as to a position : APPOINT
48. Sci-fi invaders : ETS
49. Robberies : THEFTS
51. Seemingly forever : EONS
52. Monastery figure : FRIAR
53. Jessica of “American Horror Story” : LANGE
54. Panache : ECLAT
58. Thought : IDEA
59. Hems, but doesn’t haw : SEWS
60. To be, to Brutus : ESSE
62. Word before time or piece : TWO-
64. Like an “if looks could kill” look : ICY
65. Quaint curse : POX

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