L.A.Times Crossword Corner

Aug 9, 2022

Tuesday, August 9, 2022 Micah Sommersmith

Food for Thought.

20-Across. * Saint Bernard statue made entirely from sourdough?: PURE BREAD DOG. // PUREBRED DOG

36-Across. * Special occasions that call for braided loaves?: CHALLAH DAYS. // HOLIDAYS. Although Challah bread can be eaten at any time, it is a part of the Friday meals and/or synagogue services on Friday evenings. Although I have made it, I generally purchase my challah bread each week.

42-Across. * Improvements to a cake recipe?: TORTE REFORM. // TORT REFORM

And the unifier:

56-Across. Any of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues?: PUN IN THE OVEN.

What else is in store for us today?

Across:

1. Katy Perry hit with the lyric "Louder, louder than a lion": ROAR.

5. Laid-back sort: TYPE B.

10. Arkin of "Argo": ALAN. Argo was a 2012 film that was based on the rescue of 6 American diplomats from Tehran during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979. Alan Arkin (né Alan Wolf Arkin; b. Mar. 26, 1934) portrayed a film producer in the movie.

14. Penny-__: trivial: ANTE.

15. 17-syllable poem: HAIKU. // And followed by 16-Across. One-third of a 15-Across: LINE.

17. Salty expanses: SEAS.

18. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN. I'm not familiar with WandaVision. Elizabeth Chase Olsen (b. Feb. 16, 1989), however, is the younger sister of the Olsen twins.

The Olsen sisters

19. Starring role: LEAD.

23. "I need details!": SPILL.

24. Chinese philosophy founded by Laotzu: TAOISM.

28. Many, informally: LOTSA.

32. Big name in little trucks: TONKA. My sister had a pink TONKA Jeep just like the one pictured here.

33. Toward the stern: AFT.

39. "Evil Woman" rock gp.: ELO. As in the Electric Light Orchestra.

40. Underway, to Sherlock: AFOOT.

41. Health ins. choice: PPO. As in a Preferred Provider Organization.

46. Sundial X: TEN.

47. Pokes (around): NOSES. // And 55-Down. Poke around: SNOOP.

48. R&B singer known for his use of Auto-Tune: T-PAIN. I am not familiar with T-Pain (né Faheem Rashad Najm; b. Sept. 30, 1984). He was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida and his stage name is short for "Tallahassee Pain". He chose that name to reflect the hardships he experienced as he was growing up.

50. Odors: AROMAS. Is there a difference between Odor and Aroma?

52. Wanders: ROAMS.

Where the Deer and the Buffalo Roam

61. CrossFit aftermath: ACHE.

64. Go gaga over: ADORE.

65. Wolfe who first appeared in the novel "Fer-de-Lance": NERO. Nero Wolfe is a fictional detective created by Rex Stout (Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975). Fer-de-Lance was first published in 1934.

66. Possible source of DNA evidence: HAIR.

67. One taking a spin on a helicopter?: ROTOR. Cute clue.

68. Cogito __ sum: ERGO. Today's Latin lesson. Roughly translated to mean: I think, therefore I am.

69. Upper limbs: ARMS.

70. Supreme Court Justice Kagan: ELENA. Elena Kagan (b. Apr. 28, 1960) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles. I wouldn't want her job right now.

71. Blended family prefix: STEP. As in a Step-parent.

Down:

1. Workshop files: RASPS.

2. Get the better of: ONE UP.

3. Arcade pioneer: ATARI.

4. Put up on eBay, say: RESELL.

5. Son of Odin: THOR. Everything you wanted to know about THOR, but didn't know to ask.

6. Angela Bassett's alma mater: YALE. Angela Evelyn Bassett (Aug. 16, 1958), who is married to Courtney B. Vance (b. Mar. 12, 1960) since 1997, earned both her Bachelor of Arts as well as her Master of Arts degrees from Yale University.

7. Home of a much-photographed tower: PISA. Everything you ever wanted to know about this famous leaning tower.

8. Scraped (out): EKED.

9. Donut-shaped cake: BUNDT. The Bundt cake in the United States has an interesting history.

10. "No problems here!": ALL GOOD.

11. Fib: LIE.

12. Actress de Armas: ANA. Ana Celia de Armas Caso (b. Apr. 30, 1988) played the nurse in the 2019 comic-mystery movie Knives Out.

13. Rod and Todd's dad on "The Simpsons": NED.

21. Coalition: BLOC.

22. Solemn pledge: OATH.

25. Ill-suited: INAPT.

26. Zoom alternative: SKYPE. Skype vs Zoom? I have certainly been on a lot of Zoom calls the past 2 years, but haven't used Skype in years.

27. Bricklayer: MASON.

29. "__ she blows!": THAR. Where I grew up, there was a restaurant whose slogan was That She Blows! The restaurant is long gone, but the sign remains in memory.

30. Out of danger: SAFE.

31. Up in the air: ALOFT.

33. Health insurance giant: AETNA.

34. Elevator stop: FLOOR. Fun fact: Did you know that there are only 2 escalators in Wyoming (4 if you count a set as up and down).

35. Upper body: TORSO.

37. In the __: informed: LOOP.

38. Gillette razor: ATRA. The Atra Razor often finds its way into the crossword puzzles.

43. Moderates: TEMPERS.

44. Biblical twin of Jacob: ESAU. Last Thursday, Waseeley provided us with some information about Jacob and Esau. As he noted, Esau was known for being hairy. He also traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.