Day: August 28, 2013

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
6. A.L. West player ASTRO
The Houston baseball team changed its name to the Astros from the Colt .45s in 1965 when they started playing in the Astrodome. The Astrodome was so called in recognition of the city’s long association with the US space program.

15. “Gigi” star Leslie CARON
The beautiful and talented French actress and dancer Leslie Caron is best known for her appearances in the classic Hollywood musical films “An American in Paris”, “Lili” and “Gigi”. Although I love the movie “Gigi”, my favorite of her performances is in the comedy war drama “Father Goose” in which she played opposite Cary Grant. Caron has danced with the best, including Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev.

16. Pollution-policing org. EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set up during the Nixon administration and began operation at the end of 1970.

20. Wirehair of whodunits ASTA
Asta is the wonderful little dog in the superb movie “The Thin Man” starring William Powell and Myrna Loy (as Nick and Nora Charles). In the original story by Dashiell Hammett, Asta was a female Schnauzer, but on screen Asta was played by a wire-haired fox terrier called “Skippy”. Skippy was also the dog in “Bringing up Baby” with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, the one who kept stealing the dinosaur bone. Skippy retired in 1939, so Asta was played by other dogs in the remainder of “The Thin Man” films.

24. Petty of “A League of Their Own” LORI
Lori Petty is the actress who played the character Kit Keller in the fabulous movie “A League of Their Own”. Petty also played the title role in a 1995 science fiction film called “Tank Girl”.

26. Sediment LEES
The dregs in wine, the sediment that settles during fermentation (and sometimes in the bottle), is also called “lees”.

36. Ship of Greek myth ARGO
Jason is a hero from Greek mythology, most noted for leading the quest for the Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece is the fleece of the gold-haired winged ram. For his quest, Jason assembles a group of heroes who were given the name Argonauts, as they journeyed on the ship called the “Argo”. The vessel was called the “Argo” in honor of the ship’s builder, a man named Argus.

37. Rand who created Dagny Taggart AYN
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist born Alisa Rosenbaum. Rand’s two best known works are her novels “The Fountainhead” published in 1943 and “Atlas Shrugged” in 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.

Dagny Taggart is the main protagonist in the Ayn Rand novel “Atlas Shrugged”.

42. The Matterhorn, e.g. ALP
“Matterhorn” is the German name for the famous Alpine peak that lies on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The Italian name for the same mountain is Monte Cervino, and the French call it Mont Cervin. “Matterhorn” comes from the German words Matte and Horn meaning “meadow” and “peak”. Cervino and Cervin come from the Latin name for the mountain, Mons Silvius meaning “Forest Mountain”.

45. GI entertainers USO
The United Service Organization (USO) was founded in 1941 at the request of FDR “to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces”. A USO tour is undertaken by a troupe of entertainers, many of whom are big-name celebrities. A USO tour usually includes troop locations in combat zones.

46. British __ ISLES
The British Isles is the name of the group of islands that includes the two main islands of Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) and Ireland, as well as thousands of smaller islands.

52. Hook’s sidekick SMEE
In J. M. Barrie’s play and novel about Peter Pan, Smee is one of Captain Hook’s pirates and is Hook’s right-hand man. Smee is described by Barrie as being “Irish” and “a man who stabbed without offence”. Nice guy! Captain Hook and Smee sail on the pirate ship called the Jolly Roger.

53. Caesarean rebuke ET TU
It was Shakespeare who popularized the words “Et tu, Brute?” (And you, Brutus?), in his play “Julius Caesar”, although the phrase had been around long before he penned his drama. It’s not known what Julius Caesar actually said in real life just before he was assassinated on the steps of the Senate in Rome.

59. Russian assembly DUMA
A Duma is a representative assembly in Russia. The word “dumat” in Russian means “to think, consider”.

64. Put down a rock genre? DEBASE METAL (from “base metal”)
A base metal is one that corrodes very easily, reacts with oxygen. Examples are iron, nickel, lead and zinc.

72. Dumas swordsman ATHOS
Alexandre Dumas’ “Three Musketeers” are Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and their young protégé is D’Artagnan. A musketeer was an infantry soldier who was equipped with a musket. Funnily enough, the “Three Musketeers” really don’t use their muskets, and are better known for their prowess with their swords.

Down
1. “The West Wing” Emmy winner ALDA
Alan Alda had a great television career, especially of course on “M*A*S*H”. Alda won his first Emmy in 1972, for playing Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H”. He won his most recent Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick in “The West Wing”. When it comes to the big screen, my favorite of Alda’s movies is the 1978 romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year” in which he starred opposite Ellen Burstyn.

“The West Wing”, when it was being written by Aaron Sorkin, was such a fabulous television event. It is remarkable how quickly it went downhill after Sorkin moved on. Sorkin is also famous for having written the play “A Few Good Men”, and the screenplay for one of my favorite movies: “Charlie Wilson’s War”.

2. Homer’s hangout MOE’S
Moe Szyslak is the surly bartender and owner of Moe’s Tavern in “The Simpsons” animated TV show. I don’t really care for “The Simpsons”, but Hank Azaria who supplies the voice for the Moe character … him I like …

3. IRA part: Abbr. ACCT
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

4. Big name in frozen desserts SARA LEE
In 1935, businessman Charles Lubin bought a chain of three bakeries in Chicago called Community Bake Shops, and soon expanded the operation into seven stores. Lubin introduced a cream cheesecake that he named after his daughter who was only 8-years-old at the time, Sara Lee Lubin. The cheesecake was a hit and he renamed the bakeries to Kitchen of Sara Lee. The business was bought out by Consolidated foods in 1956, but the brand name Sara Lee persists to this day, as does Ms. Sara Lee herself who now goes by the name Sara Lee Schupf.

6. Thorny shrub ACACIA
Acacia is a genus of tree and shrub, also known as thorntree, whistling thorn and wattle.

7. “Elephant Boy” actor SABU
The 1937 British film “Elephant Boy” starred a young Indian elephant driver called Sabu Dastagir. Sabu (he was often known just by the one name) made more British films over the next few years, including “The Thief of Baghdad” in 1940 and the 1942 version of “The Jungle book”. Sabu moved to Hollywood and became a US citizen in 1944. He joined the US Army Air Forces and served as a tail gunner in the Pacific, eventually winning the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor and bravery. Sadly, in 1963 Sabu died of a heart attack at only 39 years of age.

11. Greek salad topper FETA
Feta is a Greek cheese made from sheep’s milk, or a mixture of sheep’s and goat’s milk. The cheese is salted and cured in a brine solution for several months before it is eaten.

13. 1950s Rambler maker NASH
When Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company came together in 1954, it was the largest US corporate merger to date. The new company was called American Motors Corporation (AMC), and was of a size that could compete with the “Big Three” automakers. A few months after the merger, George W. Romney was given the top job at AMC. George was father of presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

18. Virologist who worked with Epstein BARR
The virologists Michael Anthony Epstein and Yvonne Barr discovered what’s now called the Epstein-Barr virus. It is in the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses found in humans. Epstein-Barr causes glandular fever, and is associated with some forms of cancer.

23. Worker protection agcy. OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 during the Nixon administration. OSHA regulates workplaces in the private sector and regulates just one government agency, namely the US Postal Service.

27. To be, to Brutus ESSE
“Esse” is the Latin for “to be”. “Sum” means “I am” and “erat” means “he, she was”.

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?”

28. Wrangler material DENIM
Denim fabric originated in Nimes in France. The French phrase “de Nimes” (from Nimes) gives us the word “denim”. Also, the French phrase “bleu de Genes” (blue of Genoa) gives us our word “jeans”.

Wrangler is a manufacturer of jeans headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. Wrangler jeans were first made in the mid-1940s and were designed specifically for use by cowboys in rodeos.

33. H.S. sobriety crusaders SADD
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) was founded in Massachusetts in 1981. SADD’s aim is to prevent road traffic accidents by urging students to avoid potentially destructive decisions (such as driving under the influence of alcohol).

34. Spare, in Soho TYRE
The area of London called Soho had a very poor reputation for most of the 20th century as it was home to the city’s red light district. Soho has been transformed though, and has been a very fashionable neighborhood since the 1980s.

39. Moon over Marseille LUNE
Marseille (often written “Marseilles” in English) is the second largest city in France, after Paris. Marseille is also the largest commercial port in the country. I used to live nearby, and it’s a lovely, lovely place.

44. Cuban cabbage? PESO
The coin called a “peso” is used in many Spanish-speaking countries around the world. The coin originated in Spain where the word “peso” means “weight”. The original peso was what we know in English as a “piece of eight”, a silver coin of a specific weight that had a nominal value of eight “reales”.

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. The exact etymology of the name “Cuba” seems a little unclear. Most believe “Cuba” to be derived from the Taíno terms for “where fertile land is abundant” (cubao) or “great place” (coabana).

50. Popular pieces REESE’S
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were invented by Harry Burnett “H.B.” Reese. Peanut Butter Cups were originally called penny cups, reflecting the price at which they were sold. Then inflation took over, and maybe that’s why they were broken into smaller “pieces” …

51. Rock follower? -ETTE
The famous Rockettes can be seen in Radio City Music Hall. They have an amazing schedule during the Christmas season when they perform five high-kicking shows every day, seven days a week. The troupe has been doing this every Christmas for 77 years.

55. Drooling comics dog ODIE
Odie is Garfield’s best friend and is a slobbery beagle, a character in Jim Davis’s comic strip.

56. Idiot DORK
I consider “dork” to be pretty offensive slang. It emanated in the sixties among American students, and has its roots in another slang term, a term for male genitalia.

60. Canyonlands National Park locale UTAH
Canyonlands is a magnificent National Park in southeast Utah, not far from Moab. The canyons in the park, and the associated mesas and buttes, were formed mainly by the Colorado and Green Rivers.

66. “Mamma __!” MIA
The hit musical “Mamma Mia!” was written to showcase the songs of ABBA. I’m a big fan of ABBA’s music, so I’ve seen this show a couple of times and just love it. “Mamma Mia!” is such a big hit on the stage that on any given day there are at least seven performances going on somewhere in the world. There is a really interesting film version of the show that was released in 2008. I think the female lead Meryl Streep is wonderful in the movie, but the male leads … not so much! By the way, one can tell the difference between “Mamma Mia” the ABBA song and “Mamma Mia!” the musical, by noting the difference in the punctuation in the titles.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Stockpile AMASS
6. A.L. West player ASTRO
11. Place to see reeds FEN
14. Like some trains and anesthetics LOCAL
15. “Gigi” star Leslie CARON
16. Pollution-policing org. EPA
17. Put down toddlers? DECRY BABIES (from “crybabies”)
19. It’s in many poems ‘TIS
20. Wirehair of whodunits ASTA
21. Start of a morning diner order A CUP …
22. Hunt illegally POACH
24. Petty of “A League of Their Own” LORI
26. Sediment LEES
28. Put down formal education? DEGRADE SCHOOL (from “grade school”)
33. Handle the helm STEER
35. They’re not from around here, briefly ETS
36. Ship of Greek myth ARGO
37. Rand who created Dagny Taggart AYN
38. Went by ELAPSED
42. The Matterhorn, e.g. ALP
43. Plumbing concern DRIP
45. GI entertainers USO
46. British __ ISLES
48. Put down thoroughfares? DEMEAN STREETS (from “mean streets”)
52. Hook’s sidekick SMEE
53. Caesarean rebuke ET TU
54. “Me too!” SO DO I!
57. Pay, as expenses MEET
59. Russian assembly DUMA
63. Fuss ADO
64. Put down a rock genre? DEBASE METAL (from “base metal”)
67. Spruce cousin FIR
68. Soothing application SALVE
69. Cockamamie INANE
70. Comics cry EEK!
71. Ancestral diagrams TREES
72. Dumas swordsman ATHOS

Down
1. “The West Wing” Emmy winner ALDA
2. Homer’s hangout MOE’S
3. IRA part: Abbr. ACCT
4. Big name in frozen desserts SARA LEE
5. Crafty SLY
6. Thorny shrub ACACIA
7. “Elephant Boy” actor SABU
8. Rare sights in nurseries TRIPLETS
9. Lobster eggs ROE
10. How many writers work ON SPEC
11. Greek salad topper FETA
12. Larger-than-life EPIC
13. 1950s Rambler maker NASH
18. Virologist who worked with Epstein BARR
23. Worker protection agcy. OSHA
25. Storybook baddie OGRE
27. To be, to Brutus ESSE
28. Wrangler material DENIM
29. Station DEPOT
30. 47-Downs have to talk their way out of them ORALS
31. Look at lecherously OGLE
32. Cuts off LOPS
33. H.S. sobriety crusaders SADD
34. Spare, in Soho TYRE
39. Moon over Marseille LUNE
40. Put together ASSEMBLE
41. Waist management DIET
44. Cuban cabbage? PESO
47. Loan recipient, often STUDENT
49. In the center of AMIDST
50. Popular pieces REESE’S
51. Rock follower? -ETTE
54. Sound partner SAFE
55. Drooling comics dog ODIE
56. Idiot DORK
58. Water-draining aid EAVE
60. Canyonlands National Park locale UTAH
61. Hand, to Jorge MANO
62. Pub server’s trayful ALES
65. Tuner’s asset EAR
66. “Mamma __!” MIA

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