google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Dec 27, 2022

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Margaret Seikel

"Boot Up" is the reveal and makes for an apt title.   And heads up, it's an LA Times Crossword debut for Margaret. 

Hi all !  Anonymous T(tp) here, subbing for Hahtoolah.    No cartoons, but I did hide three Easter eggs.   Can you find them ?

This puzzle was a real doozy.  Let's get right at it.

The reveal is BOOT UP.  Read the starred clues from the bottom up, and look for a famous boot name.

6. *Small child, facetiously: ANKLE BITER.   The first one is the heralded RE-TIB, made by ELK, NA.   These boots are commonly known as Wapitits because of the company name.   They feature two hooves in the front, and sport the instantly recognizable big white rump on the back of the heel.   The TIB was original men's version.    The redesigned RE-TIB model shed the decorative antlers after numerous product liability lawsuits were filed.    Not my cuppa, in either the original or redesigned version.  

10. *Endangered cat that turns white in winter: SNOW LEOPARD.  Boot # 2 is the equally famous DRAPO EL WONS.    I got a pair of these stylish winter boots for Christmas, and let me tell you, yes, they are "As-advertised."   They are the warmest winter boots I've ever had.    These heavily lined boots were originally made near the lowlands of Mont Blanc and marketed heavily in the French newspaper LE MONDE, using the French word drapeau, meaning woolen cloth maker.   I think they were a little too clever targeting an international market, combining French, Spanish and English.   It's been debated as to whether the intent was to be "The Winners" or "The Ones."    Regardless, look for these at high-end retailers.

Wait.   Cool your jets.  Hold the phone.  This just in.   That's not what's going on here.  Not even close.

Just read the first word (the "Up" word) in each of the theme answers, and add Boot to it.

6. *Small child, facetiously: ANKLE BITER.   - Ankle Boot

10. *Endangered cat that turns white in winter: SNOW LEOPARD. - Snow Boot

16. *Salad of corn and black-eyed peas that originated in Texas: COWBOY CAVIAR.  - Cowboy Boot.

26. *Sleeping option that lacks a box spring: PLATFORM BED.  - Platform Boot.

32. *Cinnamon roll with currants: CHELSEA BUN.  - Chelsea Boot.

62. Start, as a computer, and what each answer to a starred clue has?: BOOT UP.

That makes a lot more sense.   Down running theme answers, and the up (first, top) word is a style of boot.   I knew each of the styles by name except for Ankle and Chelsea.  

15 x 16 grid today.   A fine puzzle, Margaret.  Feel free to comment.

Across::

1. Enclosure for changing into a swimsuit: CABANA.   You might find one poolside when you take some time off to spend at at a relaxing resort in the southern climes.   

7. One of the original Seven Sisters schools: VASSAR.  The Hudson Valley college in Poughkeepsie that was named for a brewer.

13. Roused from sleep: AWOKEN.  Disturbed.

14. French daily paper: LE MONDE.  It's read at Notre Dame.  The one in Paris. 

15. Mostly shaved hairstyle: MOHAWK.   DeNiro's haircut in "Taxi Driver."

16. Commutes with co-workers: CARPOOLS.   HOV lane users.

17. __-mo replay: SLO.  The instant replay feature that often takes too long to review.

18. Arm joints: ELBOWS.  They're brutally effective in hand to hand combat and self defense. 

20. Foolish sort: TWIT

21. Like some GameStop merchandise: PRE-OWNED.  Used.

23. Units of wt.: LBS.   My New Year's resolution was to lose ten of them.  Only twelve more to go.

24. Home screen array: APPS.  Applications shown on your phone or browser.

27. __ and weaves: BOBS.   How a boxer moves to avoid getting hit.

28. Issa of HBO's "Insecure": RAE.   No relation to Norma.

30. __ monster: GILA.  The venomous lizard of the Sonoran desert.  Venomous, but not normally fatal to healthy adult people.   Any stories, Yuman  ?  Or anyone that's been to that desert ?
 
31. Ad abbr. for "seeking": ISO.    Do you think that ... ?  Is it true  ...  ?   Am I SO out of touch I don't know what ISO means ?   In search of.

32. Uses crayons: COLORS.  Stay between the lines.  Thems the rules.

35. Travel discount provider: AAA.  And a small battery size.

36. Courtroom fig.: ATTY.  A professional in briefs. 

37. Many a Woodstock attendee: HIPPIE.   I believe Lemonade said he was there.  Yasgur's farm, Bethel, N.Y.  

38. Chant: INTONE.  Enunciate slooowly.

 
40. Prompted on stage: CUED.   The forgetful actor was fed a line.

42. Get on in years: AGE.  Mature.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

43. "That's cheating!": NO FAIR.  "I was robbed!"

44. The Hawks, on scoreboards: ATL anta.   I must commend ATLGranny for always projecting such a positive attitude.   Not to take away from the other positive minded people here; it's just that I had that opening with ATL.  

45. __ and proper: PRIM.  Like many schoolmarms ?

46. Greenlights: OKS.  Approves.  Thumbs up !

47. Numbered rds. in a city: AVES.   Not so much in Chicago.  Generally, avenues here are named.

48. Stirs in: ADDS.  Combines.  The verb.  Not the generic name of the harvesting equipment.

49. Time off, briefly: RNR.  Rest and R (elaxation, ecuperation, ecreation, ...) Pick one.

51. Completeness: ENTIRETY.  The whole kit and caboodle.

54. Rhythmic foot: IAMB.   The metrical foot in poetry.

56. Hebrew prophet: ISAIAH.  Michelangelo painted him on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

57. Relaxing resort: SPA.   A place to get some RNR.

60. "I expect more from you": DO BETTER.  "Improve, or else!"

64. Retired, as a professor: EMERITA.  Honored in academia.

65. Orders for regulars: USUALS.   The regular customers, and what they'll order.

66. 2022 documentary about actor and activist Poitier: SIDNEY.   Great actor.   The documentary is on Apple TV+

67. Weed with stinging hairs: NETTLE.   Plan on 30 to 45 minutes of stinging pain if you come in contact with a Texas Bull Nettle.   Click the pic for a close up.

Down:

1. Pic takers: CAMS.   Incredible overhead shots of the Argentinians celebrating.  I'm happy for Messi.

2. GI sought by MPs: AWOL.  I knew a few that received an Article 15 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for not reporting for duty, but never knew anyone that got written up for the much more serious charge of being AWOL.   That's Article 87 of the UCMJ.  I just looked it up.

3. __-chic: 37-Across-influenced style: BOHO.  Boho-chic.  Bohemian stylish.  "While boho and hippie fashions have certain things in common, boho is more about encouraging a more romantic appearance and a more nomadic way of living.  Hippie and boho fashions both attempt to break away from conventional dress. Boho fashion, in contrast to hippie fashion, has no political roots."  - All news to me.

4. Alias letters: AKA.  As in, "Chicago, aka the Windy City, the City of Big Shoulders, or the Second City, is noted for ..."

5. Next gen: NEWER.  Next gen has become a marketing buzzword, and may or may not represent any real improvement or advancement in a product or service offering.  So it's often only hype, but it sells better than using descriptors like last gen or old gen. 

7. Song segment: VERSESecond verse, same as the first. 

8. Concert device: AMP.   The Story of the Marshall Amp.   Thanks, Dash T !

9. Chimney grime: SOOT.  How does Santa's suit stay so clean ?

11. Improvise on stage: AD LIB.  Spontaneous remarks or actions.  Riffing.  Sometimes by the forgetful actor that wasn't cued.

12. Takes five: RESTS.  A five minute RNR ? 

14. Grassy yards: LAWNS.  A coworker who was also a neighbor relocated here from Arizona, and hated mowing his large back yard, and also hated paying to have it mowed.  He hired a landscaping company to spray with a non-selective systemic herbicide, and then had them blanket the whole kit and caboodle with truckload after truckload of stones and rocks.  Apparently it wasn't enough to remind him of home, or maybe it was the winters, because as soon as he retired he moved back to Arizona. 

19. Helpful push upward: BOOST.   Physical, emotional or career wise. 

21. Anti-vaping spot, for short: PSA.  Public Service Announcement.  The current PSA encourages parents to "Get your head out of the cloud, and to talk to your kids about vaping."  Just so you know, nicotine is the third most addictive substance behind heroin and cocaine.

22. Sci-fi robot: DROID.  Abbreviated from android, I suppose.

24. "Can you repeat that?": AGAIN.    I said, "abbreviated from android, I suppose."

25. Baby grand, e.g.: PIANO.  Unlike baseball, the active player sits on the bench.

29. Swiss mountain: ALP.  

 Click here to open the enlarged version of this map

33. Inflexible: RIGID.   Are we talking about a character trait, or are we describing the physical properties of certain materials ?   I suppose the clue and answer works either way. 

34. Looks like: SEEMSSeems to me, you just turn your pretty head and walk away.

36. Licoricelike herb: ANISE.   Depending on the dish, a little goes a long way.

39. Acorn tree: OAK.  Squirrels love them.

41. Wombs: UTERI.   Gestation stations.

45. Pick up the tab: PAY.   Treat. 

47. Completely confused: AT SEA.   Is anyone puzzled by this ?

49. Uber offerings: RIDES.  Cedar Point attractions: Rollercoasters.  Rides.

50. Model Campbell: NAOMI.  Not just model.  1990s Supermodel.

52. __-gritty: NITTY.   The essentials.  The crux of the matter.  "Let's skip the chit chat and get down to the nitty gritty."  Brass tacks.

53. That and that: THOSE.  Them ones.  No, that's not correct.  It's them thar ones.

55. Swiss capital: BERN.   Zoom in, zoom out.  The ALPs shown in 29D are southeast of Bern.

 

57. Sports fan's datum: STAT istic.

58. Injure, as a muscle: PULL.  Been there, done that.

59. Cathedral recess: APSE.  The view from a pew.

61. Even score: TIE.   Baseball games rarely end in one. 

63. Not at home: OUT.   Gone fishin', perhaps.  I'm out.  Next time I'll try to do better.