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CROSSWORD SETTER: Tom Pepper
THEME: Itemized Phrases … each of today’s themed answers is a common phrase that includes two ITEMS. However, each of those two items has been listed separately, i.e. ITEMIZED:
17A. Dickens classic, itemized A TALE OF CITY CITY (“A Tale of Two Cities”)
28A. Smugly prudish sort, itemized GOODY SHOE SHOE (goody two shoes)
47A. Country/western dance, itemized TEXAS STEP STEP (Texas two-step)
63A. Chime in, itemized ADD ONE’S CENT CENT (add one’s two cents)
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 6m 12s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Wading bird in ancient Egyptian art IBIS
The ibis is a wading bird that was revered in ancient Egypt. “Ibis” is an interesting word grammatically speaking. You can have one “ibis” or two “ibises”, and then again one has a flock of “ibis”. And if you want to go with the classical plural, instead of two “ibises” you would have two “ibides”!
5. __ of March IDES
Julius Caesar was assassinated on the 15th (the ides) of March, 44 BC. He was attacked by a group of sixty people in the Roman Senate, and was stabbed 23 times. The first to strike a blow was Servilius Casca, who attacked Caesar from behind and stabbed him in the neck. In Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, Casca utters the words “Speak, hands, for me!” just before making the fatal blow. The following line, uttered by Caesar, is more famous though: “Et tu, Brute?”
9. Dessert “there’s always room for” JELL-O
If you like Jell-O, then you might want to stop by LeRoy, New York where you can visit the only Jell-O museum in the world. While at the museum, you can walk along the Jell-O Brick Road …
14. Like pre-stereo sound MONO
Monophonic sound (“mono”) is sound reproduced using just one audio channel, which is usually played out of just one speaker. Stereophonic sound is reproduced using two audio channels, with the sound from each channel played out of two different speakers. The pair of stereo speakers are usually positioned apart from each other so that sound appears to come from between the two. Quadraphonic sound (4.0 surround sound) uses four audio channels with the sound played back through four speakers often positioned at the corners of the room in which one is listening.
15. Geek Squad pro TECH
Best Buy is a retailer specializing in the supply of consumer electronics. Best Buy services include the famous “Geek Squad”, a band of technical experts that will help solve your computer and other consumer electronic problems.
17. Dickens classic, itemized A TALE OF CITY CITY (“A Tale of Two Cities”)
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is the most printed book that was originally written in English. The “two cities” in the title are London and Paris.
23. Prefix with skeleton EXO-
An animal with an endoskeleton has a supporting skeleton inside its body. So, we humans have an endoskeleton. A turtle, on the other hand, has both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton, its outer shell.
24. River inlet RIA
A drowned valley might be called a ria or a fjord, both formed as sea level rises. A ria is a drowned valley created by river erosion, and a fjord is a drowned valley created by glaciation.
26. Most fit to be drafted ONE-A
The US government maintains information on all males who are potentially subject to military conscription, using what is called the Selective Service System(SS). In the event that a draft was held, men registered would be classified into groups to determine eligibility for service. Class 1-A registrants are those available for unrestricted military service. Other classes are 1-A-O (conscientious objector available for noncombatant service), 4-A (registrant who has completed military service) and 4-D (Minister of religion).
28. Smugly prudish sort, itemized GOODY SHOE SHOE (goody two shoes)
The expression “goody two-shoes” is used for someone who is virtuous, but in a smug way. The term comes from a nursery tale published in 1765 called “The History of Goody Two-Shoes”. Goody Two-Shoes is the heroine of the tale, and isn’t smug at all. Instead, she is a Cinderella-like character in a retelling of the Cinderella story.
39. “All in the Family” wife EDITH
Archie Bunker’s wife Edith was played by Jean Stapleton on the 1970s sitcom “All in the Family”. By 1980, Stapleton was growing tired of playing the role and appeared in fewer and fewer episodes. When the show’s spin-off series “Archie Bunker’s Place” premiered, the storyline revealed that Archie Bunker had just lost his wife, setting the tone for the new show.
42. Beehive, e.g. UPDO
That distinctive “beehive” hairstyle is also called a B-52, because the round beehive-shape also resembles the bulbous nose of a B-52 bomber! The style originated in 1958 and is credited to Margaret Vinci Heldt, the owner of a hair salon in downtown Chicago. I’m not a fan of the beehive, but I do have to say that Audrey Hepburn carried it off in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, as did Dusty Springfield in her heyday.
43. St. Teresa’s home AVILA
Avila is famous for the walled defenses around the old city, which date back to 1090. They were constructed out of brown granite, and are still in excellent repair. There are nine gateways and eighty-towers in all. Even the cathedral built between the 12th and 14th centuries is part of the city’s defenses, so it looks like an imposing fortress.
St. Teresa of Avila (also known as St. Teresa of Jesus) was a Carmelite nun living in Spain in the 1500s. She is particularly noted for her writings on Christian meditation and mental prayer.
51. Chocolate-caramel candy brand ROLO
Rolo was a hugely popular chocolate candy in Ireland when I was growing up. Rolo 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.
52. “__ Blinded Me With Science”: 1983 hit SHE
“She Blinded Me With Science” is a 1983 song, really the only hit for English singer Thomas Dolby. Apparently the song is quite popular, but I’d never heard of it …
61. Sherpas’ land NEPAL
In the Tibetan language, Sherpa means “eastern people” (sher = east, pa = people). Sherpas are an ethnic group from Nepal, but the name is also used for the local guides who assist mountaineers in the Himalayas, and particularly on Mount Everest.
63. Chime in, itemized ADD ONE’S CENT CENT (add one’s two cents)
“To put in one’s two cents” is to add one’s opinion. The American expression derives from the older English version, which is “to put in one’s two pennies worth”.
66. Yamaha with a bench PIANO
The Japanese company Yamaha started out way back in 1888 as a manufacturer of pianos and reed organs. Even though the company has diversified since then, Yamaha’s logo still reflects it musical roots. Even on Yamaha motorcycles you can see a logo made up of three intersecting tuning forks.
67. Syllables before di or da, in a Beatles song OB-LA-
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was one of many songs credited to Lennon/McCartney that was actually written by just one of the pair. Paul McCartney wrote this one, a song that John Lennon really did not like at all. Apparently Lennon was quite obstructionist during the recording of the song and even walked out at one point.
68. “Les Misérables” novelist HUGO
Victor Hugo’s famous 1862 novel “Les Misérables”, has been translated into English several times. However, the title is usually left in the original French as a successful translation of “les misérables” seems to be elusive. Some suggestions for an English title are “The Wretched”, “The Victims” and “The Dispossessed”.
69. Proverbial backbreaker STRAW
We use the idiom “the straw that broke the camel’s back” to refer to an seemingly inconsequential action that can cause a cataclysmic failure given the pressure on the situation that already exists. Our English idiom comes from an Arabic proverb with a similar wording and meaning.
70. “Ghost Hunters” channel SYFY
Syfy is a cable television that used to be known as “Sci-Fi Channel”, which of course specializes in broadcasting science fiction shows. The brand name “Syfy” was chosen because “Syfy” could be trademarked whereas the generic term “sci-fi” could not.
“Ghost Hunters” is a “reality” show on SyFy starring two Roto-Rooter plumbers who clear drains by day and investigate haunted houses by night.
Down
2. Wrinkle-removing injection BOTOX
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is a protein that can cause botulism, an extremely dangerous illness in humans and animals. Botulinum toxin is sold under the trade name Botox. Botox is used therapeutically and in cosmetic applications to weaken muscles, perhaps muscles that are in uncontrollable spasm. The cosmetic application involves the paralyzing of facial muscles in order to eliminate or reduce wrinkles, at least for a few months.
7. Caesar’s “Behold!” ECCE!
The Roman emperor Nero had quite the family life. When Nero was just 16-years-old he married his stepsister, Claudia Octavia. He also had his mother and step-brother executed.
8. 1862 Tennessee battleground SHILOH
The Battle of Shiloh was a major engagement in the Civil War, fought in 1862 at Pittsburg Landing in southwestern Tennessee. The battle started with a surprise attack by Confederate forces led by Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard. The attackers gained the upper hand on the first day, over the Union forces led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Union reinforcements arrived during the night and the tide of the battle turned the next day and the Confederates were forced to withdraw. Almost 3,000 men died in the course of the Battle of Shiloh, making it the bloodiest battle in US history up to that point in time.
9. Leadership training group, familiarly JAYCEES
The Jaycees (JCs) is a leadership training organization more fully known as the US Junior Chamber. Membership is open to people from 18 to 40 years of age.
11. Hawaiian wreaths LEIS
“Lei” is the Hawaiian word for “garland, wreath”, although in more general terms a “lei” is any series of objects strung together as an adornment for the body.
13. Black gemstone ONYX
Onyx is a form of banded quartz that comes in many different shades, but most often it’s the black version that’s used for jewelry. The name “onyx” comes from the Greek word for “fingernail”, as onyx in the flesh color is said to resemble a fingernail.
19. Ex-Yankee Martinez TINO
First baseman Tino Martinez has retired from Major League Baseball. Martinez played for a number of teams including the Mariners, Yankees, Cardinals and Devil Rays. Martinez was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and as a boy he worked in his father’s cigar factory.
25. Tête product IDEE
In French, one’s head (tête) might produce an idea (idée).
31. Joint that may be swiveled HIP
The hip is a ball and socket joint.
33. “Xanadu” rock gp. ELO
The title song of the 1980 movie “Xanadu” was performed by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and Olivia Newton-John (who starred in the film). Despite the popularity of ELO around the world, the song “Xanadu” was the band’s only number one hit back in their homeland of the UK.
36. Pilates class need MAT
Pilates is a physical exercise system developed by, and named for, Joseph Pilates. Pilates introduced his system of exercises in 1883 in Germany.
37. Grandmother of Enos EVE
Enos, as the son of Seth, was the grandson of Adam and Eve.
38. Negative word often spoken in pig Latin NIX
Pig Latin is in effect a game. One takes the first consonant or consonant cluster of an English word and moves it to the end of the word, and then adds the letters “ay”. So the Pig Latin for the word “nix” is “ix-n-ay” … ixnay, and for “scram” is “am-scr-ay”
46. Surgical tube STENT
In the world of medicine and surgery, a stent is an artificial tube inserted inside a vessel in the body, say an artery, so that it reduces the effects of a local restriction in the body’s conduit.
48. Wild plum SLOE
The sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush, and the main flavoring ingredient in sloe gin.
49. Upper bodies TORSOS
“Torso” (plural “torsi”) is an Italian word meaning the “trunk of a statue”, and is a term that we imported into English.
55. John with nine #1 hits in the U.S. ELTON
Elton John had nine number-one hits in the US:
– “Crocodile Rock” (1972)
– “Bennie and the Jets” (1974)
– “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (1974)
– “Philadelphia Freedom” (1975)
– “Island Girl” (1975)
– “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976)
– “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (1991)
– “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” (1997)
– “Candle in the Wind 1997” (1997)
58. Jewish month before Nisan ADAR
Nisan is the first month in the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar, the month in which Passover falls. Adar is the last month in the same calendar.
60. Beriyo smoothie maker TCBY
TCBY is a chain of stores selling frozen yogurt, founded in 1981 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The acronym TCBY originally stood for “This Can’t Be Yogurt”, but this had to be changed due to a lawsuit being pressed by a competitor called “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt”. These days TCBY stands for “The Country’s Best Yogurt”.
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Wading bird in ancient Egyptian art IBIS
5. __ of March IDES
9. Dessert “there’s always room for” JELL-O
14. Like pre-stereo sound MONO
15. Geek Squad pro TECH
16. Stayed home for dinner ATE IN
17. Dickens classic, itemized A TALE OF CITY CITY (“A Tale of Two Cities”)
20. Attempt to get GO FOR
21. Natural history museum item RELIC
22. Type of symbol or appeal SEX
23. Prefix with skeleton EXO-
24. River inlet RIA
26. Most fit to be drafted ONE-A
28. Smugly prudish sort, itemized GOODY SHOE SHOE (goody two shoes)
34. One who makes your skin crawl CREEP
35. At rest STILL
36. Diner handout MENU
39. “All in the Family” wife EDITH
42. Beehive, e.g. UPDO
43. St. Teresa’s home AVILA
45. Force out of bed ROUST
47. Country/western dance, itemized TEXAS STEP STEP (Texas two-step)
51. Chocolate-caramel candy brand ROLO
52. “__ Blinded Me With Science”: 1983 hit SHE
53. Fury IRE
56. Pro vote YEA
59. Word before or after “coming” FORTH
61. Sherpas’ land NEPAL
63. Chime in, itemized ADD ONE’S CENT CENT (add one’s two cents)
66. Yamaha with a bench PIANO
67. Syllables before di or da, in a Beatles song OB-LA-
68. “Les Misérables” novelist HUGO
69. Proverbial backbreaker STRAW
70. “Ghost Hunters” channel SYFY
71. Candid OPEN
Down
1. Publicist’s concern IMAGE
2. Wrinkle-removing injection BOTOX
3. Befuddled IN A FOG
4. Song sung alone SOLO
5. “Who am __ judge?” I TO
6. Offset, as costs DEFRAYED
7. Caesar’s “Behold!” ECCE!
8. 1862 Tennessee battleground SHILOH
9. Leadership training group, familiarly JAYCEES
10. List-shortening abbr. ETC
11. Hawaiian wreaths LEIS
12. Lo-cal LITE
13. Black gemstone ONYX
18. Fielding mishap ERROR
19. Ex-Yankee Martinez TINO
25. Tête product IDEE
27. On the ball ASTUTE
29. Eye-related OCULAR
30. Steeple top SPIRE
31. Joint that may be swiveled HIP
32. Former OLD
33. “Xanadu” rock gp. ELO
36. Pilates class need MAT
37. Grandmother of Enos EVE
38. Negative word often spoken in pig Latin NIX
40. Of the best quality TOP-SHELF
41. “Quit complaining!” HUSH!
44. So far AS OF NOW
46. Surgical tube STENT
48. Wild plum SLOE
49. Upper bodies TORSOS
50. Make oneself heard PIPE UP
54. Mountain chain RANGE
55. John with nine #1 hits in the U.S. ELTON
56. Jabbers YAPS
57. Improve text EDIT
58. Jewish month before Nisan ADAR
60. Beriyo smoothie maker TCBY
62. Repeat ECHO
64. Put __ show ON A
65. Anti vote NAY
Zero errors. Good grid overall with little junk fill. Only question is whether 24-Across/25-Down is a little much for a Tuesday, but other than that nothing overly nonsensical or crazy.
Nice and challenging puzzle – had a lot of fun. Computer still acting up, and lots of snow otside, and very cold temps. Had to use my air pump to raise the pressure on all of our tires. Boyle's law is always working.
Got the them early, which helped a lot. I notice the title.'Les miserables' is never translated, since it doesn't sound so nice, in english. I've never eaten at TCBY, so was not familiar with their products.
I have lots of balls, of carved Onyx, but none of them are black. I do have a Jet ball, which is certainly black.
Have a nice day folks.
not to inject any politics here, but "Corinthians Corinthians" fits today's theme very well.
@Anonymous – Seconded! (g)
I actually tripped myself up for awhile on the middle western section because I stuck India in for 43 Across and that took a fair amount of time to straighten out.
We are gone for the next 3 days so I'll look for you all on Saturday when we are home and back to our regular schedule and haunts.
Just to expand on Bill's entry for 28A, GOODY SHOE SHOE, the reason Goody Two-Shoes isn't smug at all is because "Goody" here doesn't mean "good" but is instead a contraction of "Goodwife," which was an old form of address for a woman or girl, where we would now say Mrs. or Miss or Ms.
Just another example of a mistake becoming common currency because we don't know history. My personal favorite is "double-edged sword," which is a phrase popularly used — even by military people — to mean something that can be both helpful as well as harmful at the same time. In reality, a double-edged sword was no more likely than a single-edged weapon to endanger the person using it. The Roman "gladius," for example, was a short double-edged stabbing sword. It's highly unlikely that Rome's legions — who were justly renowned for their ruthless efficiency — would have adopted and employed such a weapon for hundreds of years had it posed any sort of hazard to its user.
@Anonymous Can you explain your "Corinthians" reference?
To macaronijack:
Last night? in his speech at Liberty University, Donald Trump, in order to prove how pious he is, quoted the Bible. He got chapter and verse correct, but mis-named the chapter, calling it "Two Corinthians" instead of "Second Corinthians," sort of proving how very unfamiliar with the Bible he really is.
@Anonymous Got it — a reference to Trump's speech. Here I am squawking about history while oblivious to current events.
@JustJoel Just got your explanation. Thanks.
Strange that Rolos are made differently in different countries. Wonder how many other products that's true of.
Clever, unusual puzzle.
I left the B blank where OBLA crosses TCBY. The nearest one to me is an hour away.
Easy, quick solve, and I guess I gotta like a grid that mentions Dickens and the Beatles.
In Willie's absence, I'll point out the Seinfeld connection: the setter's name, Tom Pepper, was the "name" of the actor who played Kramer in Jerry and George's pilot for NBC.
As to your comments on meanings, Macaroni Jack, I have to take issue. I also dislike the fact that certain words and phrases lose their meanings over time, but I think the phrases you mention actually are good examples of the creativity of living, evolving language! Both phrases have taken oñ interesting, evocative meanings. That said, tho, I really dislike it when words that were once potent come into too-frequent use. Their substance becomes diluted! I made this complaint here not long ago, re, the word "meme." When did that word become part of the Twitter/Instagram sphere??!
…..
Is anyone reading this? I better sign off before I take up even MORE space…!=-O
Be well~~™
@Carrie
This is a really belated post, but just to reassure that I, for one, have read your post. Thanks for your comments.