L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, November 21, 2018 C.C. Burnikel

Theme: A CAPITAL IDEA, i.e. a sterling concept, taking advantage of the word CAPITAL having two distinctly different meanings, as we shall soon see; one relating to finance and the other to being something central and important.

18. Church official: PARISH CLERK.  A church official charged with carrying out specific duties.  This term was in much more common use in the 19th century.

24. Vermont senator since 2007: BERNIE SANDERS. From 1990 to 2006 he represented Vermont in the House of Representatives.  He also served as mayor of Burlington from 1980 to 1999. If you ever think your vote doesn't matter, remember he won his first election by 10 votes. Deeper than that into politics we shall not venture.

48. "Thus with a kiss I die" speaker: ROMEO MONTAGUE.  Tragic young hero and one of the eponyms of a Shakespearian tragedy.  The musical followed a few centuries later.

58. Baked pasta dish: RIGATONI PIE.  You be the judge.

And then the centrally located two-part unifier.  37. With 39-Across, seed money ... or what 18-, 24-, 48- and 58-Across each has: STARTUP.

39. See 37-Across: CAPITAL.  Together, they indicate the initial investment needed to get a business going; and also, via word play, the CAPITAL city of a European country at the START of each theme entry.

The cities are --
PARIS, France;
BERN. Switzerland;
ROME, Italy; and
RIGA, Latvia.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here as your tour guide on a journey provided by our most gracious host. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Across:

1. Plane engine housing: POD.  For wing mounted engines.

4. Hindu philosophy: TANTRA.  Adherence to the doctrines or principles of the tantras, involving mantras, meditation, yoga, and ritual.

10. "Don't leave": STAY.  Dog command?

14. Previously: AGO. Once upon a time

15. Signals for firefighters: ALARMS.

16. Only state with a non-rectangular flag: OHIO.   I knew this, since I am from there. Also - what's round at both ends and hi in the middle?  Now - on to stuff I did not know.

Ohio's state flag was adopted in 1902. The Ohio burgee, as the swallowtail design is properly called, was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State."

Buckeye, peeps! Only $24.95

 
17. Big beverage server: URN.  Generally with a tap, and usually used for coffee, tea or hot water.

20. "I'm game!": LET'S.  And away we go!

22. Business abbr.: INCorporated.

23. Singer Mann: AIMEE.  New one for me.

28. Gambling city on the Truckee: RENO. Nevada.  The Truckee is the only outlet from Lake Tahoe, and it empties into Pyramid Lake in the great basin.

29. Golden Delicious, e.g.: APPLE.  My absolute least favorite variety.

30. Hosp. recovery area: POST-OP.  After surgery location.

32. Prepared: SET.  Ready to go.

33. Add to the staff: HIRE.  Bring on a new employee.

41. Jedi master with pointy ears: YODA.



42. Twaddle: ROT. Nonsense.

44. Business losses, figuratively: RED INK.  Debits are noted in red, so, if they exceed credits, the red dominates.

45. Biting desert lizards: GILAS.  Large, slow moving, venomous lizards, native to the North American southwest

47. Buddhist temple bell: GONG.

53. Amazon Echo's voice assistant: ALEXA.  We have a granddaughter with that name.  Here we are a few years ago.  She's in college now.

Note the family hair

54. Youthful fellow: LAD.

55. Difficult journey: TREK.

62. "__ you alone?": ARE.  Can I come over?

63. Flood-anticipation precaution, briefly: EVACuation.  Also for wild fires.

64. Was nearly empty: RAN LOW.  In short supply.

65. Fabric flaw: RIP. Tear.

66. Dollars for quarters: RENT.  Living quarters.  Clever!

67. Word from a poser: CHEESE.  Induces a quasi-smile in a photographic subject.

68. Thus far: YET.  Up to now.

Down:

1. Folklore lumberjack Bunyan: PAUL.  Companion of Babe the Blue Ox.

2. Fantasy meanie: OGRE.

Is he really that mean?

3. "Chin up!": DON'T BE SAD.  Things could be worse.

4. Touch lightly: TAP.  Or PAT.  Needed perp help.

5. Harlem Renaissance writer Locke: ALAIN.   Alain Leroy Locke [1885-1954] was an American writer, philosopher, educator, and patron of the arts. Distinguished as the first African-American Rhodes Scholar in 1907.

6. C.S. Lewis' fantasy world: NARNIA.  Setting for a series of novels.

7. Bench press beneficiary: TRICEPS.  Muscles in the backs of the upper ams.

8. White House's 132: Abbr.: RMS.  Rooms.

9. Firepit detritus: ASH.  Burnt wood residue.

10. Three-dimensional: SOLID.  Having length, width and height.

11. __ park: THEME.  An amusement park designed around a central or unifying concept - Disney World, for example.

12. Broadcaster: AIRER.  Presenter of radio or TV programming.

13. Oxen connectors: YOKES. A YOKE is a crosspiece connecting the necks or shoulders of animals, so they can pull a load together.

19. Stick for a walk: CANE.

21. Nissan sedan: SENTRA.

25. Ginger or ginseng: ROOT.

26. Builder's guideline, briefly: SPEC.  Specification - detailed instruction for the project.

27. Ring exchange place: ALTAR.  Wedding rings.

28. __-Rooter: ROTO.  Drain pipe and sewer cleaning device, and service company of the same name.

30. "Gangnam Style" musician: PSY.  Erm.  Here, if you're interested.

31. Festival in the month of Adar: PURIM.  A Spring festival held on the 14th or 15th of the month to  commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther.  Deeper than that into religion we shall not venture.

33. Holed up: HID OUT.  Typically, as a way of avoiding law enforcement.

34. Travel plan: ITINERARY.  A planned route, including stops, if any.

35. Hit the bell: RANG.  Bonged the GONG

36. Caribou cousin: ELK. Cervus canadensis, one of the largest members of the deer family; but not as large as the moose.  To muddy the waters, in British English, the moose is called the ELK.  Go figure.

38. Sport for equestrians: POLO.  A game similar to field hockey, played on horse back, using long-handled mallets.

40. Simon who co-wrote and co-starred in "Shaun of the Dead": PEGG. [b 1970] British actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.  Would he confuse ELK with moose?

43. Sun worshiper's mark: TAN LINE.

I pale in comparison

45. Nanny __: GOAT.  A female of this animal variety.  The male is called Billy.  I don't know why.

46. Bread or butter: STAPLE.  An important item in something, such as a diet.  When the sword swallower lost his job with the circus, he fell on hard times and couldn't even provide STAPLES for his family.

48. Not so well-done: RARER.  Meat cooking terms.

RARER preparations are on the left

49. Salade niçoise morsel: OLIVE.  From the city of Nice, in France, this salad also contains a variety of other ingredients, including tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and anchovies in an olive oil dressing.

50. Fox of "Transformers": MEGAN.

51. Precise: EXACT.  On the mark.

52. "Until next time": ADIOS.  Buh-bye.

56. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.  Where I come from, it's Toledo's Lake!

57. Held on to: KEPT. As, frex, the faith.

59. Tolkien monster: ORC.  Evil cave dwelling creature that cannot abide the sun.

Actor Jeff Brophy as Snaga

60. "Don't think so": NAH.  Nope.

61. Little lamb's mom: EWE.  A sheep in sheep's clothing.

And with that wool blanket we'll wrap up our tour.  Hope you enjoyed the ride.

Cool regards!
JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 Michael Ray Jacobson and Patti Varol

Theme: HAPPY 75th, JONI MITCHELL.  Theme answers feature some of her body of work.

20 A. 1968 55-Across song: BOTH SIDES NOW.  First recorded by Judy Collins in 1968, then the following year by the composer on an album named for a word in this song.

32. 1976 55-Across album: HEJIRA.  Her 8th studio album. It was mostly written on and inspired by a driving trip from Maine to L.A.  You can read about it here.

37. 1970 55-Across song: BIG YELLOW TAXI.  I never knew that was the name of this song.  The things you learn  .  .  .

43. 1969 55-Across album whose last song is 20-Across: CLOUDS.  This is the word. Cf 20 A, above.

55. Singer/songwriter born 11/7/1943: JONI MITCHELL.  The birthday girl, herself. 

Program Book for the Joni 75 event in Los Angeles 

Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to spin the platters.  This doesn't quite take me back to my 'ute.  But I'm no spring chicken, either.  It takes me back to early adulthood.  CLOUDS was released about a year before my son was born.

Let's examine this score and see if we can find some high notes.

Across:

1. Crowds around: MOBS.  Here, "crowds" is a verb, describing a group of people [presumably] mobbing someone or some thing.

5. Geologic time: EPOCH.  On a geologic time scale, this is a long, but non-specific time period that is shorter than a period and longer than an age.  Certainly longer than my age, and that's saying something.

10. It's the truth: FACT.  An element or aspect of reality.

14. Baseball's Felipe or his son Moises: ALOU.  Along with Felipe's younger brothers Matty and Jesús.  Very talented players from the Dominican Republic.

15. Nabisco wafer brand: NILLA.   Shortened form of VANILLA. the main flavor element of these cookies.

16. Serengeti feline: LION.  And that's a FACT!

17. Barclays Center team: NETS.  Basketball.

18. Strung along: LED ON.   Given false hopes by someone insincere.

19. Boatloads: A LOT.  Non-specific large quantity.

23. Axis foes: ALLIES.  WWII foes.   The main Allied powers were Great Britain, The United States, China, and the Soviet Union.   The main Axis powers were Germany, Japan and Italy.

24. Spot for an AirPod: EAR.  These are wireless headphones made by Apple.

25. Tight spot: JAM.  Unpleasant situation with no easy escape route.

28. "__ whiz!": GEE.  Golly!

29. Sundance's sweetie __ Place: ETTA.  "The Sundance Kid" was outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh. Her real name, age and birthplace are all unknown. Evidently, she was married to Longabaugh.

"Classic Good Looks"

34. Lofty principles: IDEALS.  Standards of perfection, principles to strive for.

36. "Do __ others ... ": UNTO. Archaic form of "to."

41. "The Walking Dead" survivor Grimes: CARL.  The son of primary protagonist Rick Grimes, and his wife Lori Grimes.  Already more than I know.

42. Advertising lure: COME ON.  Bait.  May or may not come with switch.

46. Business review site: YELP.  An on-line publishing service for crowd-sourced revues of local businesses.

47. Influential D.C. group: PAC.  Political Action Committee.

50. Place in the woods: DEN.  An animals lair, I suppose.  Not fond of this clue.

51. Forever and a day: EON.  Is this longer than an EPOCH?

53. "Watch and learn": LIKE SO.  As I demonstrate  .  .  .

58. Auburn rival, familiarly: 'BAMA.  University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide.

61. Miguel's "I love you": TE AMO.  Spanish amor.

62. Small Chevy model: AVEO.  Or Aero.  Needed perp help.

63. Vacationing: AWAY.  Out of town.  Or at least away from the office.

64. Harsh-smelling: ACRID.  Nasty odor.

65. Sharp-edged: KEEN.  Well honed.

66. Tach reading: REVS.  I wanted RPMS.  But R stands for Revs, so OK.

67. Annoy: GET TO.  Bug, in a way.

68. Car trip game: I SPY.   The spy observes something and gives a hint, such as the letter it strts with or its color, and other players have to guess what it is.

Down:

1. Metrosexual tote: MAN BAG.  Choose from our wide selection.

2. Repetitive refrain in the song "Hot Hot Hot": OLE OLE.

3. Perfume holder: BOTTLE.

4. Fish dish served with wasabi: SUSHI.  Actually, a vinegared rice dish often, but not necessarily, served with sea food.

5. Willing recruit: ENLISTEE.  One who joins without a lead on or come on.

6. Like a noted piper: PIED. Clad in multicolored clothing.

7. Quaint retail adjective: OLDE.  As in Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe.

8. In the neighborhood: CLOSE.  Near by, but cigarless.

9. ESPN anchor __ Storm: HANNAH.

Helped break the gender barrier in sportscasting

10. It may be tragic: FLAW.  Or even fatal.

11. Not feel well: AIL.  Have something

12. Whisper sweet nothings: COO.  Might also involve billing.

13. Explosive letters: TNT.  Dy-no-mite!

21. Far from swanky: SEEDY.  In poor, run-down condition.

22. Mined-over matter: ORE.  Stuff found in a hole in the ground.  Clever clue.

25. "We just said the same thing at the same time!": JINX.  So you owe me!

26. Basic drawing class: ART I.  Here the I stands for the number 1, designating the introduction to Art class.  Have you met Art?  Would you introduce me?

27. "Little Red Book" author: MAO.  A book of quotations and writing from Mao Zedong,  chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from its inception in 1949 until his death in 1979.

30. Powder puff stuff: TALC.  A finely divided form of hydrated magnesium silicate.

31. Bronze or brass: ALLOY.  An ALLOY is a mixture of metals, generally designed to enhance physical properties.

33. San __, Puerto Rico: JUAN.  Located on the north coast of the island, it is the capital and largest city of the commonwealth.

34. "House," in Inuit: IGLU.  Usually rendered as IGLOO in the English speaking world.

35. A few: SOME.  An indeterminate quantity of moderate size.

37. Hayloft bundle: BALE.  Of hay, of course.

38. Wrinkle remover: IRON.   For your clothing.

39. Prosperous: WELL TO DO.  Upper class.

40. __ sentence: essay opener: TOPIC.  What it's all about.

41. Included in an email, briefly: CCD.  Copied.  Thus, included as a recipient, not in the contents.

44. "Gloria in Excelsis __": DEO.  Glory to God in the highest, in Latin - a Christian hymn, also known as the Greater Doxology.

45. "In America" novelist Susan: SONTAG.  The novel is based on the true story of Polish actress Helena Modjeska who arrived in California in 1876.

47. Pet problems?: PEEVES.  Pet PEEVES are thing you find particularly annoying.  Are they necessarily problems?  I have mixed feelings about this clever, misleading clue.  More clever than accurate, perhaps.

48. __ at the wheel: ASLEEP.  An expression indicating a failure to handle duties or responsibilities.  Also a country music group that has recorded over 20 albums and won 9 Grammies since their start in 1970.

49. Ant-sy complex?: COLONY.   Misleading, but accurate and cute.

52. Female relative: NIECE.  Sister's or brother's daughter.  Mine lives in N. Car.

54. Uniform cloth: KHAKI.  A strong cotton fabric in a dull yellow-brown color.

55. Rogers Centre team, familiarly: JAYS.  Toronto Blue Jays of the American League of baseball.

56. K follower: MART.  Are there any left?  The former K-Mart site near me is being converted into an Aldi grocery store.

57. "Look no further than me": I'M IT.  Choose me!

58. Trivia night site: BAR.  Site for drinking and gaming.

59. Bedazzle: AWE.  Impress in a highly favorable way.

60. Big D hoopster: MAVerick, a player on the team representing Dallas in the National Basketball Association.

That wraps up another Wednesday.  Was it all in tune for you?  A little dissonance, but not too many sour notes, IMHO, and a nice tribute to Ms. Mitchell.

Cool regards!
JzB