LA Times Crossword 14 Sep 22, Wednesday

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Constructed by: Lisa Senzel & Christina Iverson
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Keto

HIGH in the grid are three occurrences of “FAT” as hidden words, and LOW in the grid is one occurrence of “CARB”, also as a hidden word:

  • 68 Diet that’s high in fats and low in carbs, as illustrated by parts of the answers to the starred clues : KETO
  • 53A *Secretive email option : BLIND CARBON COPY
  • 3D *Figure often depicted with a scythe and an hourglass : FATHER TIME
  • 7D *Pakistani-born chef who was posthumously honored with a James Beard Award : FATIMA ALI
  • 11D *Serious software problem : FATAL ERROR

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

Bill’s time: 5m 49s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Spanish tennis great Nadal, familiarly : RAFA

Rafael “Rafa” Nadal is a Spanish tennis player. He is noted for his expertise on clay courts, which earned him the nickname “The King of Clay”.

15 Glazer of “The Afterparty” : ILANA

Ilana Glazer is a comedian from Long Island, New York. Along with comedian Abbi Jacobson, she is the co-creator of the Comedy Central sitcom “Broad City”.

“The Afterparty” is a murder mystery comedy show that first aired in 2022. The first series is set at a high school reunion. Each episode revisits the events at the reunion, but from the perspective of different characters. I haven’t seen this one, but it does sound interesting …

16 Skating commentator Lipinski : TARA

When American skater Tara Lipinski won the figure skating gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, she was only 15 years old. To this day, Lipinski is the youngest person to win an individual gold at the Winter Games.

20 Japanese drama : NOH

Noh is a form of musical drama in Japan that has been around since the 14th century. Many of the Noh performers are masked, allowing all the roles to be played by men, including the female parts.

21 Cookbook contents : RECIPES

The Latin “recipere” means “to take”, and the imperative form “recipe” was written at the top of medical prescriptions as an instruction, i.e. “take (the following)”. This use of “recipe” evolved into the instruction for preparing a dish of food in the mid-1700s.

23 Author Rand : AYN

Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist born “Alisa Rosenbaum”. Her two best known works are her novels “The Fountainhead” published in 1943 and “Atlas Shrugged” from 1957. Back in 1951, Rand moved from Los Angeles to New York City. Soon after, she gathered a group of admirers around her with whom she discussed philosophy and shared drafts of her magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged”. This group called itself “The Collective”, and one of the founding members was none other than future Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan. Rand described herself as “right-wing” politically, and both she and her novel “Atlas Shrugged” have become inspirations for the American conservatives, and the Tea Party in particular.

24 Genre for composer Terence Blanchard : OPERA

Terence Blanchard is a trumpeter and composer. He is a frequent collaborator with movie director Spike Lee, for whom he writes film scores. When New York’s Metropolitan Opera staged his opera “Fire Shut Up in My Bones”, Blanchard became the first African-American composer to have a work performed by the company.

26 Informal “You’re oversharing” : TMI

Too much information (TMI)

27 Caramel candies : ROLOS

Rolo was a hugely popular chocolate candy in Ireland when I was growing up. It was introduced in the thirties in the UK, and is produced under license in the US by Hershey. I was a little disappointed when I had my first taste of the American version as the center is very hard and chewy. The recipe used on the other side of the Atlantic calls for a soft gooey center.

29 Like some dangerous isotopes : RADIOACTIVE

An isotope is a variant of an element. All isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons, but not the same number of neutrons. This means that isotopes of an element have different atomic weights. The term “isotope” was coined in 1913, and translates from Greek “having the same place”. The idea is that isotopes may have different atomic weights, but they occupy the same place in the periodic table.

32 Curry of the NBA : SETH

NBA player Seth Curry is the son of former player Dell Curry, and the younger brother of player “Steph” Curry. Seth’s (and Steph’s) mother is former Virginia Tech volleyball player Sonya Curry (née Adams). Seth Curry married former professional volleyball player Callie Rivers in 2019.

35 Quintet for most starfish : ARMS

Starfish (sometimes known as “sea stars”) come in many shapes and sizes, but commonly have “pentaradial symmetry”, meaning they have symmetrical body-shapes with five points. Most starfish are predators, mainly living on a diet of mollusks such as clams and oysters.

38 Prefix for a lifesaving “Pen” : EPI-

EpiPen is a brand of epinephrine auto-injector. An EpiPen delivers a measured dose of epinephrine, which is a common treatment for an extreme allergic reaction.

45 Speed skater Ohno : APOLO

Speed-skater Apolo Ohno has won more Winter Olympics medals than any other American. Ohno also did a great job winning the 2007 season of television’s “Dancing with the Stars”.

50 Michelle of “Crazy Rich Asians” : YEOH

Michelle Yeoh is an actress from Malaysia who appeared in several Hong Kong action films in which she did her own stunts and martial arts scenes. Her most famous action performance was in the 2000 movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, although I best know her for playing opposite Pierce Brosnan in the Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies”.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is a 2018 rom-com based on a 2013 novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan. The film garnered a lot of attention and accolades, not only for the quality of the script and performances. It was the first major Hollywood movie to feature a principal cast of Asian descent since 1993’s “The Joy Luck Club”.

53 *Secretive email option : BLIND CARBON COPY

A blind carbon copy (bcc) is a copy of a document or message that is sent to someone without other recipients of the message knowing about that extra copy.

67 Calf-roping event : RODEO

“Rodeo” is a Spanish word that is usually translated into English as “round up”.

68 Diet that’s high in fats and low in carbs, as illustrated by parts of the answers to the starred clues : KETO

A ketogenic (also “keto”) diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. When a body consumes insufficient carbohydrates to meet the need for energy, then the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies in order to make up the energy deficit. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the bloodstream is known as “ketosis”, a term that gives rise to the name “ketogenic diet”. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe a ketogenic diet in order to control epilepsy in children. A condition of ketosis can reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.

Down

1 Safari herbivore : RHINO

There are five types of rhinoceros that survive today, with the smaller Javan Rhino being the most rare. The rhinoceros is probably the rarest large mammal on the planet, thanks to poaching. Hunters mainly prize the horn of the rhino as it is used in powdered form in traditional Chinese medicine.

“Safari” is a Swahili word meaning “journey” or “expedition”.

2 Fabulous writer? : AESOP

Aesop is remembered today as a fabulist, a writer of fables. Aesop lived in ancient Greece, probably around the sixth century BC. Supposedly he was born a slave, somehow became a free man, but then met with a sorry end. Aesop was sent to the city of Delphi on a diplomatic mission but instead insulted the Delphians. He was tried on a trumped-up charge of stealing from a temple, sentenced to death and was thrown off a cliff.

3 *Figure often depicted with a scythe and an hourglass : FATHER TIME

“Chronos” is the Greek word for time, with the name applying in ancient Greece to a personification of time. He was not a Greek god, although Chronos has often been confused with the Titan Cronus of Greek mythology. The Titan Cronus was often depicted with a scythe, as this was the tool he used to castrate his father Uranus. The confusion of Chronos and Cronus led to the traditional depiction of “Old Father Time” with a scythe.

6 __ college : ELECTORAL

The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1804, and redefines procedures used by the Electoral College during a presidential election. Prior to the amendment, each member of the Electoral College cast two electoral votes, after which the candidate with the most votes was elected president, and the candidate with the second-most votes was elected vice president. As a result of the amendment, each member of the Electoral College casts one vote for president, and one vote for vice president. So, the Twelfth Amendment makes it unlikely that we end up with a vice president who is not supportive of the president, as the victorious pair probably campaigned together on the same ticket, and had not been rivals in the election.

7 *Pakistani-born chef who was posthumously honored with a James Beard Award : FATIMA ALI

Fatima Ali was a Pakistani-born American chef who appeared on the cooking shows “Chopped” and “Top Chef”. She immigrated to the US in order to attend the Culinary Institute of America, from which she graduated in 2011. Sadly, Ali passed away from cancer in 2019, at the young age of 29.

10 Part of FWIW : IT’S

For what it’s worth (FWIW)

12 Dessert from 16 Handles, familiarly : FROYO

16 Handles is a franchise serving frozen yogurt that was founded in 2008 in New York City. The name “16 Handles” is a reference to the number of “handles” available to patrons to serve themselves varying flavors of froyo. The chain’s name is also a nod to “Sixteen Candles”, one of the founder’s favorite movies.

22 __ Lanka : SRI

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.

30 Maker of the Deep Blue chess computer : IBM

Deep Blue was a computer developed by IBM specifically for playing chess. In 1996 it became the first machine to win a chess game against a reigning world champion. The champion in question was the great Garry Kasparov, although he came out on top in the end by winning the 6-game competition 4-2.

36 Timbuktu’s land : 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.

40 Black bird : RAVEN

Ravens and crows are very similar species, and it can be difficult to tell them apart. Ravens are a little larger and often travel in pairs, whereas crows are a little smaller and are usually seen in larger groups. Crows make a cawing sound, while the raven’s call is more like a croak.

46 NBC symbol : PEACOCK

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) has had a number of different logos in its history, including the famous peacock with which we are familiar today. The first peacock logo was introduced in the early days of color television and was designed to illustrate how wonderful color television would be, so go buy one! (NBC was owned by RCA, and so had a vested interest in sales of color television sets).

48 Abby Wambach’s sport : SOCCER

Abby Wambach is a retired professional soccer player who was named FIFA World Player of the Year for 2012. She played for the US national team in all four World tournaments from 2003 to 2015.

49 Juliet’s cry : O ROMEO!

In the balcony scene in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Juliet utters the famous line:

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Every school kid must have commented with a giggle “he’s down in the garden!” Of course, “wherefore” isn’t an archaic word for “where”, but rather an old way of saying “why”. So Juliet is asking, “Why art thou Romeo, a Montague, and hence a sworn enemy of the Capulets?”

51 Winnie-the-Pooh greeting : HALLO

There is a theory that our greeting “hello” derives from the call of “hollo” that is shouted out in a fox hunt when the quarry is spotted.

54 Chocolate __ cake : LAVA

Molten chocolate cake is chocolate cake with a warm and liquid chocolate center. A dessert often called “lava cake”, it was invented by French chef Michel Bras, and dates back to 1981. It was popularized in the US by French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, initially in his New York restaurant Jean-Georges.

55 Waffle maker : IRON

Waffle irons have been around since the 1300s, in the Low Countries. The original version comprised two iron plates connected by a hinge, and two wooden handles. The plates were often cast with a pattern that left an image on the waffle. The waffles were baked in the iron over a fire in a hearth.

56 “Kills bugs dead!” spray : RAID

Raid insecticide has been killing bugs since 1956.

57 Hockey Hall of Famer Willie : O’REE

Willie O’Ree is a retired professional hockey player from Canada who made his debut for the Boston Bruins in 1958. That made him the first Black player in the National Hockey League, and earned him the nickname “Jackie Robinson of ice hockey”.

59 “Seize the day” initialism : YOLO

You only live once (YOLO)

“Carpe diem” is a quotation from Horace, one of ancient Rome’s leading lyric poets. “Carpe diem” translates from Latin as “seize the day” or “enjoy the day”. The satirical motto of a procrastinator is “carpe mañana”, “translating” as “seize tomorrow”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Spanish tennis great Nadal, familiarly : RAFA
5 Upgrade, as machinery : REFIT
10 Uncertain : IFFY
14 Cabbage buy : HEAD
15 Glazer of “The Afterparty” : ILANA
16 Skating commentator Lipinski : TARA
17 Analogy words : IS TO
18 Bridal path flower piece : PETAL
19 Stash, as gear : STOW
20 Japanese drama : NOH
21 Cookbook contents : RECIPES
23 Author Rand : AYN
24 Genre for composer Terence Blanchard : OPERA
26 Informal “You’re oversharing” : TMI
27 Caramel candies : ROLOS
29 Like some dangerous isotopes : RADIOACTIVE
32 Curry of the NBA : SETH
34 Bike part : BRAKE
35 Quintet for most starfish : ARMS
38 Prefix for a lifesaving “Pen” : EPI-
39 Not so big : SMALLER
41 Knock : RAP
42 Try to hit : AIM AT
44 Tell it like it isn’t : LIE
45 Speed skater Ohno : APOLO
47 Act parts : SCENES
49 Past the point of caring : OVER IT
50 Michelle of “Crazy Rich Asians” : YEOH
52 Neighborhood : AREA
53 *Secretive email option : BLIND CARBON COPY
60 Uncommon : RARE
61 Assertion : CLAIM
62 Cookie used as a 12-Down topping : OREO
63 Admit frankly : AVOW
64 Omit in speech : ELIDE
65 Spreadsheet unit : CELL
66 Soaks up the sun : TANS
67 Calf-roping event : RODEO
68 Diet that’s high in fats and low in carbs, as illustrated by parts of the answers to the starred clues : KETO

Down

1 Safari herbivore : RHINO
2 Fabulous writer? : AESOP
3 *Figure often depicted with a scythe and an hourglass : FATHER TIME
4 Hubbub : ADO
5 Ready for picking : RIPE
6 __ college : ELECTORAL
7 *Pakistani-born chef who was posthumously honored with a James Beard Award : FATIMA ALI
8 Up the creek : IN A PICKLE
9 Story : TALE
10 Part of FWIW : IT’S
11 *Serious software problem : FATAL ERROR
12 Dessert from 16 Handles, familiarly : FROYO
13 Signs of boredom : YAWNS
21 “Wicked!” : RAD!
22 __ Lanka : SRI
25 Sidelines cheer : RAH!
28 Fertility lab cells : OVA
30 Maker of the Deep Blue chess computer : IBM
31 Workout top : TEE
32 Bodies of water : SEAS
33 __ fail : EPIC
36 Timbuktu’s land : MALI
37 Predicament : SPOT
39 Fine horse : STEED
40 Black bird : RAVEN
43 “What’s the latest?” : ANY NEWS?
46 NBC symbol : PEACOCK
48 Abby Wambach’s sport : SOCCER
49 Juliet’s cry : O ROMEO!
51 Winnie-the-Pooh greeting : HALLO
52 Tolerate : ABIDE
53 Sassy kid : BRAT
54 Chocolate __ cake : LAVA
55 Waffle maker : IRON
56 “Kills bugs dead!” spray : RAID
57 Hockey Hall of Famer Willie : O’REE
58 Hit, as with snowballs : PELT
59 “Seize the day” initialism : YOLO