Constructed by: Brock Wilson
Edited by: Rich Norris
Quicklink to a complete list of today’s clues and answers
Quicklink to comments
Theme: High-Minded
Today’s themed answers each start with something that is HIGH:
- 58A. Honorable … and like the starts of 17-, 23-, 37- and 47-Across : HIGH-MINDED
- 17A. What the star gets on a marquee : TOP BILLING
- 23A. Dejected : CRESTFALLEN
- 37A. Period of optimal accomplishment : PEAK PERFORMANCE
- 47A. Meeting of world leaders : SUMMIT TALKS
Bill’s time: 5m 44s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
10. Former Iranian ruler : SHAH
The last Shah of Iran was Mohammed-Reza Shah Pahlavi, as he was overthrown in the revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. The post-revolution government sought the extradition of the Shah back to Iran while he was in the United States seeking medical care (he had cancer). His prolonged stay in the United States, recovering from surgery, caused some unrest back in Iran and resentment towards the United States. Some say that this resentment precipitated the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran and the resulting hostage crisis.
17. What the star gets on a marquee : TOP BILLING
A marquee is a large sign that is placed over the entrance to a theater. The marquee usually displays the names of the film or play currently showing, as well as the principal actors performing.
20. “__ Haw” : HEE
The variety show “Hee Haw” aired on CBS from 1969-1971, and then had a 20-year run in syndication. The show was built around country music, although the format was inspired by “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In”.
21. Contemptuous manner, in slang : ‘TUDE
Attitude (‘tude)
22. “Pet” annoyance : PEEVE
The phrase “pet peeve”, meaning “thing that provokes one most”, seems to be somewhat ironic. A “peeve” is a source of irritation, and the adjective “pet” means “especially cherished”.
32. Madame of physics : CURIE
Marie Curie lived a life of firsts. She was the first female professor at the University of Paris, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and indeed was the first person to win two Nobel prizes (in 1903 and 1911). Most of Curie’s work was in the field of radioactivity, and was carried out in the days when the impact of excessive radiation on the human body was not understood. She died from aplastic anemia, caused by high exposure to radiation. To this day, Curie’s personal papers are kept preserved in lead-lined boxes as they are highly radioactive, even her personal cookbook.
41. Bygone jet, briefly : SST
The most famous supersonic transport (SST) was the Concorde, a plane that’s no longer flying. Concorde had that famous “droop nose”. The nose was moved to the horizontal position during flight to create the optimum aerodynamic shape thereby reducing drag. It was lowered during taxi, takeoff and landing, so that the pilot had better visibility. The need for the droop nose was driven largely by the delta-shaped wings. The delta wing necessitates a higher angle of attack at takeoff and landing than conventional wing designs, so the pilot needed the nose lowered so that he or she could see the ground.
44. Song at the Met : ARIA
The Metropolitan Opera (often “the Met”) of New York City is the largest classical music organization in the country, presenting about 220 performances each and every year. Founded in 1880, the Met is renowned for using technology to expand its audiences. Performances have been broadcast live on radio since 1931, and on television since 1977. And since 2006 you can go see a live performance from New York in high definition on the big screen, at a movie theater near you …
45. Like most peanuts : SALTED
I have to say it, but it drives me crazy. Peanuts aren’t nuts, they’re legumes, a plant in the bean and pea family. The flowers of the peanut plant last only one day and then wither. The fertilized ovary develops an elongated “peg” that grows downwards, pushing the ovary down into the soil. The ovary develops underground into a mature peanut pod containing between one and four seeds, which we call “nuts”. But they aren’t nuts. Did I say that already …?
52. Name on rented trailers : U-HAUL
The U-Haul company was started by married couple Leonard Shoen and Anna Mary Carty in Ridgefield, Washington in 1945. The Shoens used $5,000 of seed money to build trailers in their garage, and then cleverly recruited gas station owners as franchisees with whom they would split the rental revenue. There are now about 15,000 U-Haul dealers across the country.
53. Lane with a nose for news : LOIS
Lois Lane has been the love interest of Superman/Clark Kent since the comic series was first published in 1938. Lois and Clark both work for the big newspaper in the city of Metropolis called “The Daily Planet”. The couple finally got hitched in the comics (and on television’s “Lois and Clark”) in 1996. But never mind all that … one has to wonder how challenging the crossword is in “The Daily Planet” …
62. Pigmented eye layer : UVEA
The uvea is the middle of the three layers that make up the eyeball. The iris is the colored part of the eye with an aperture in the center that can open or close depending on the level of light hitting the eye.
64. Part of NIMBY : YARD
NIMBY is an acronym, standing for “not in my backyard”. The term is used to describe local opposition to a development in situations when it is generally agreed that the development is needed for the good of society (just “not in my backyard”).
65. Swiss capital : BERN
Bern (sometimes “Berne”) is the capital city of Switzerland. The official language of the city is German, but the language most spoken in Bern is a dialect known as Bernese German.
Down
4. Star of the ball : DEB
“Deb” is short for “debutante”, which translates from French as “female beginner”.
6. Witty Oscar : WILDE
If you didn’t know Oscar Wilde was Irish, you will when you see the name he was given at birth: Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde!
7. Astrological Ram : ARIES
Aries the Ram is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, and is named after the constellation. Your birth sign is Aries if you were born between March 21 and April 20, but if you are an Aries you would know that! “Aries” is the Latin word for “ram”.
8. Maria __ Trapp : VON
The von Trapps portrayed in the musical “The Sound of Music”, was a real family, as is well known. In the musical and film, the eldest daughter is “Liesl”, although in real life her name was Agathe. Agathe came with her family to the US in 1938, and operated a private kindergarten in Baltimore, Maryland for 35 years. Agathe passed away in 2010.
11. Marriott facility : HOTEL
Marriott Hotels developed their initial properties in the fifties. The first to open was the Quality Inn near Washington DC, the first purpose-built airport hotel in the country.
12. Advil competitor : ALEVE
Aleve is a brand name used for the anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen sodium.
Advil is Wyeth’s brand of ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug.
13. Macho guys : HE-MEN
A man described as “macho” shows pride in his masculinity. “Macho” is a Spanish word for “male animal”.
22. “The Hunger Games” nation : PANEM
“The Hunger Games” is a 2008 novel by Suzanne Collins, the first in a trilogy of titles that also includes “Catching Fire” (2009) and “Mockingjay” (2010). “The Hunger Games” was adapted into a very successful movie released in 2012, with the sequels following soon after. Amazon.com reports more sales of “The Hunger Games” series books than even the “Harry Potter” series.
28. Vet sch. course : ANAT
“Vet” is an abbreviation for “veterinarian”, a professional who treat animals for disease and injury. The word “veterinary” comes from the Latin “veterinae” meaning “working animals, beasts of burden”.
32. Zagreb native : CROAT
Zagreb is the capital city of the European Republic of Croatia. Zagreb has been around a long, long time, and dates back to the diocese of Zagreb that was founded at the end of 11th century.
33. N.Y.-based educators’ union : UFT
The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is a union representing the majority of teachers in the public schools of New York City.
34. Insect in a dusk swarm : GNAT
Gnats are attracted to the smell of rotting food, and to vinegar. Simple homemade traps that use vinegar are often constructed to attract and kill gnats.
35. Realtor’s lot unit : ACRE
“Real estate agent” is a general, generic term. “Realtor” is the name given to a member of the trade association known as the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The NAR has gone so far as the trademark the term “Realtor” in the US.
45. Less than 1%? : SKIM
The fatty component of milk is known as butterfat (sometime “milkfat”). To be labeled “whole” milk, the butterfat content must be at least 3.25%. Lowfat milk is defined as milk containing 0.5-2% fat, with levels of 1% and 2% commonly found on grocery store shelves. Skim milk must contain less than 0.5% fat, and typically contains 0.1%.
48. “Star Trek” lieutenant : UHURA
Lt. Nyota Uhura is the communications officer in the original “Star Trek” television series, played by Nichelle Nichols. The role is significant in that Uhura was one of the first African American characters to figure front and center in US television. In a 1968 episode, Kirk (played by William Shatner) and Uhura kiss, the first inter-racial kiss to be broadcast in the US. Apparently the scene was meant to be shot twice, with and without the kiss, so that network executives could later decide which version to air. William Shatner says that he deliberately ran long on the first shoot (with the kiss) and fluffed the hurried second shoot (without the kiss), so that the network would have no choice.
49. Alma __ : MATER
The literal translation for the Latin term “alma mater” is “nourishing mother”. “Alma mater” was used in Ancient Rome to refer to mother goddesses, and in Medieval Christianity the term was used to refer to the Virgin Mary. Nowadays, one’s alma mater is the school one attended, either high school or college, usually one’s last place of education.
50. Rags-to-riches author Horatio : ALGER
Horatio Alger was an American writer of the late nineteenth century. Alger was a prolific writer of novels for young people and creates tales of poor children making it good in the world, achieving the American dream as it were.
51. Lindsay who played Liz in “Liz & Dick” : LOHAN
I think that actress Lindsay Lohan’s big break was in the Disney remake of “The Parent Trap” in 1998. I’ve really only enjoyed one of Lohan’s films though, “Freaky Friday” from 2003 in which she stars alongside the fabulous Jamie Lee Curtis.
“Liz & Dick” is a 2012 TV movie about the up-and-down relationship of movie stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. “Liz” Taylor is played Lindsay Lohan, and “Dick” Taylor by Grant Bowler. I haven’t seen this one, but I’d imagine there’s a great story to be told. But the critics, they didn’t like it much …
55. Mature eft : NEWT
Newts wouldn’t be my favorite animals. They are found all over the world living on land or in water depending on the species, but always associated with water even if it is only for breeding. Newts metamorphose through three distinct developmental stages during their lives. They start off as larvae in water, fertilized eggs that often cling to aquatic plants. The eggs hatch into tadpoles, the first developmental form of the newt. After living some months as tadpoles swimming around in the water, they undergo another metamorphosis, sprouting legs and replacing their external gills with lungs. At this juvenile stage they are known as efts, and leave the water to live on land. A more gradual transition takes place then, as the eft takes on the lizard-like appearance of the adult newt.
58. O’Hare, for United Airlines : HUB
O’Hare International is the fourth busiest airport in the world. The original airport was constructed on the site between 1942 and 1943, and was used by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the manufacture of planes during WWII. Before the factory and airport were built, there was a community in the area called Orchard Place, so the airport was called Orchard Place Airport/Douglas Field. This name is the derivation of the airport’s current location identifier: ORD (OR-chard D-ouglas). Orchard Place Airport was renamed to O’Hare International in 1949 in honor of Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare who grew up in Chicago. O’Hare was the US Navy’s first flying ace and a Medal of Honor recipient in WWII.
60. Org. promoting hunter safety : NRA
National Rifle Association (NRA)
Complete List of Clues and Answers
Across
1. Poets : BARDS
6. Ocean breaker : WAVE
10. Former Iranian ruler : SHAH
14. From another planet : ALIEN
15. Golfer’s club selection : IRON
16. Golfer’s target : HOLE
17. What the star gets on a marquee : TOP BILLING
19. Express checkout lane unit : ITEM
20. “__ Haw” : HEE
21. Contemptuous manner, in slang : ‘TUDE
22. “Pet” annoyance : PEEVE
23. Dejected : CRESTFALLEN
26. Wrap tightly, as in bandages : SWATHE
30. Poker holding : HAND
31. Charged atoms : IONS
32. Madame of physics : CURIE
34. Guy’s partner : GAL
37. Period of optimal accomplishment : PEAK PERFORMANCE
41. Bygone jet, briefly : SST
42. Act with passion : EMOTE
43. Caution : WARN
44. Song at the Met : ARIA
45. Like most peanuts : SALTED
47. Meeting of world leaders : SUMMIT TALKS
52. Name on rented trailers : U-HAUL
53. Lane with a nose for news : LOIS
54. Pasta suffix : -INI
57. Dirt road grooves : RUTS
58. Honorable … and like the starts of 17-, 23-, 37- and 47-Across : HIGH-MINDED
61. Emancipated : FREE
62. Pigmented eye layer : UVEA
63. Watchdog warning : GROWL
64. Part of NIMBY : YARD
65. Swiss capital : BERN
66. Foul, weather-wise : NASTY
Down
1. It’s drawn in a tub : BATH
2. Natural skin soother : ALOE
3. Unlike green tomatoes : RIPE
4. Star of the ball : DEB
5. Tattletale : SNITCH
6. Witty Oscar : WILDE
7. Astrological Ram : ARIES
8. Maria __ Trapp : VON
9. Subj. with grammar : ENG
10. Handheld riot gear : SHIELD
11. Marriott facility : HOTEL
12. Advil competitor : ALEVE
13. Macho guys : HE-MEN
18. Tempt : LURE
22. “The Hunger Games” nation : PANEM
24. Severe pang : THROE
25. Carnival : FAIR
26. Drinks that make a drink last : SIPS
27. Troubles : WOES
28. Vet sch. course : ANAT
29. Disdainful click : TSK!
32. Zagreb native : CROAT
33. N.Y.-based educators’ union : UFT
34. Insect in a dusk swarm : GNAT
35. Realtor’s lot unit : ACRE
36. Allow to borrow : LEND
38. Danger : PERIL
39. Give out : EMIT
40. Tapered tool : AWL
44. Tickled : AMUSED
45. Less than 1%? : SKIM
46. Give, as homework : ASSIGN
47. Like the beach during a storm : SURFY
48. “Star Trek” lieutenant : UHURA
49. Alma __ : MATER
50. Rags-to-riches author Horatio : ALGER
51. Lindsay who played Liz in “Liz & Dick” : LOHAN
54. Wedding promises : I DOS
55. Mature eft : NEWT
56. Relaxed way to sit by : IDLY
58. O’Hare, for United Airlines : HUB
59. “__ been thinking … ” : I’VE
60. Org. promoting hunter safety : NRA
Nice and esay puzzle, I was done before I knew it. Spoiled the fun. I thought there was more to come,….. but no. Thank you, Bill, for your blog. I hope you are doing OK. You really need a reliable assistant …. it is too much work for one person.
So, the calling of peanuts, Nuts, is one of your ‘pet peeves’ ?. Secondly, if the peanut plant flower lasts but for, only one day, either the pollenators are already lurking in the wings, to fertilize it, or it may have some form of asexual propogation. I must read up on this.
Regarding the U-Haul story …. if the founding couple of Mr. Shoen and Ms. Carty had been as punny as they were successful in business, …. they could have named their franchise – Show’em Cart.
Finally on Oscar Wilde, the great satiricist (sp?) , who once described the aristocratic sport of ‘fox hunting’, as “The insufferable chasing the inedible”. I will never forget that. That such a brilliant man, had such a miserable end to his life, largely because of his homosexuality ( which was a crime, at the time _ ) is a sad footnote of days gone by.
Have a nice day, and beginning of the week, all.
Yes – very easy puzzle today. I thought there would be more to the theme, but I guess not.
I use the term “TUDE” all the time with my frat-boy nephews. “Dude – what’s with the TUDE?” …..You had to be there….
Peanuts being referred to as “nuts” is a pet PEEVE of Bill’s. Mine in this puzzle is the word “Realtor”. It’s pronounced REEL-ter…not “REEL-uh-ter”. Sheeesh. That drives me absolutely legumes….I’ve heard actual realtors pronounce it incorrectly so there’s no hope.
Best-
@Jeff: 44’s eight years in office must have been torture for you! I know it was for me; nu-cu-lar, indeed!
Oops, not 44, 43. You know, Dubya!
That drives me absolutely legumes!!!!!
LOVE IT!
As for Sunday, I got bored with it and didn’t finish it. So DNF. One thing I’ve noticed is a lot of the big grids I do are starting to get that way (used to do 4 a weekend). Not sure how it happened, but I’m kind of surprised that it did.
“Surfy”? Say what?
6:43, no errors, iPad. My SO is severely allergic to tree nuts (like, one almond and he’s on his way to the emergency room … or worse) but peanuts are no problem.
Why did W always say “nucular”, rather than “nuclear”? The reasons for that were totally uncular … 🙂
And now we’re in for four years with a president who gives every sign of having a solid fifth-grade education … 🙁
Dubya said “nucular (and still does, apparently)” because he’s a poorly educated hick that doesn’t know any better, in spite of even Laura. Trump not only has a depressed level of education, his emotional and intellectual abilities were arrested in fifth grade; consequently, we now have a playground bully who was raised by racists as a president elect.
I hear Costa Rica is the happiest country on the planet.
Jeff, ( my second post – ), I’m sure you know, ( as I learnt not so long ago – ) that, while, real estate agent, or real estate broker, is a generic name for the profession, and the word Realtor ( insert a superscript, circled ‘R’ here … ), or Realtors, or some similar combination, is a registered trademark, or a copyright, of the National Association of Realtors ( again, insert a superscript, circled ‘R” here …. ). Thus it should not be used for anything or any service that any non-member sells or provides….. nor should it be used in any generic sense.
That, out of the way, …. Hi Carrie, and your trademarked ending. !
I was looking at a camouflaged picture of a frog, in a forest, (on “crypsis” ) and wasted an hour of my time, trying to figure out where the pesky critter, ok, amphibian lied, or lay.
If you have some time to waste, look for the frog, in this picture. Hint- a yellow square may indicate where it is. I think the photograph itself is a little too deceptive.
PANEM ..will never remember it.
SURFY? UFT!
I can’t find the frog, Vidwan. ;-(
Pookie, to see the frog, in the photo –
first click on “More Details” – the blue box
then click on the hypertext on the first para, in the explanation, and the frog will be highlighted for you – in color.
I see a lizard. Nose to end of tail is the length of the entire picture. Vidwan
Thanks, Vidwan, but I still can’t see it, plus, I don’t know what it looks like.
I googled camouflage frog and look!
peek-a-boo!
I like the ones who blend in with rocks.
@JustJoel59: This is not a political blog and your comments are offensive. If you’re that unhappy, by all means move to Costa Rica.
@restmycase Your offense is noted. That being said:
1. Many topics exclusive of crosswords are often discussed on this blog, including, from time to time, politics.
2. I fail to note your name anywhere on this blog listed as author or moderator. You want to scold people whom you find offensive? Write your own blog!
Now that’s just rude.
We’ve had to listen and read and watch this contentious presidential election for almost two years.
Hillary LOST.
As incredulous as the entire media was that Trump won, they tried to convince us that she was ahead in every poll.
Of course we discuss other things on Bill’s blog, but they’re not polarizing subjects like religion and politics.
I don’t recall Republicans behaving badly when Obama won two terms. He won and that was it.
Trump WON.
No amount of throwing tantrums and demonstrating is going to change that.
Miley Cyrus, Cher, Amy Schumer, Barbra Streisand and Whoopi all said they would leave the country if Trump won.
If you’re not part of the solution….you all know the rest.
@Pookie, @JustJoel59 – Thanks, Pookie. I appreciate it. Well said. 🙂 For the record, JustJoel59, I didn’t say I was offended. I said your comments were offensive, and they are. This is not about scolding you, it’s about observing that your comments are out of line and offensive. And now I will also add divisive and false (a “playground bully raised by racists”), not to mention intolerant.
@JustJoel59: And it is insultingly false to call President Bush a “poorly educated hick…” and that also goes for the rest of the garbage you’re spewing. Your venom and hostility are off the charts. And it bears noting that Hillary Clinton received millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a country that regularly executes homosexuals. There is no justification for that. Bottom line here: those who scream the loudest about intolerance are themselves the most intolerant of all. No need to respond.
“a country that regularly executes homosexuals.”
You’ll notice that I and others had no comment on that.
Best to keep comments to the crossword and not our religious beliefs.
I dont want to add anything on the above discussion. I apologize if anything I said, may have hurt anyone else ….. really.
On other matters, as the hapless, camouflaged frog, that was minding its own business.
Pookie, that picture, with the square was what I talking about.
and Here is the frog, in all his/her/its glorious vermillion yellow color, with a black and white background..
You can sleep soundly tonight – you didn’t miss anything much.
@Pookie- I don’t understand your comment. It is my understanding that it is a fact that the country of Saudi Arabia’s policy is to execute homosexuals just for being homosexual.
@RestMyCase
I was quoting your comment.
JustJoel has mentioned his sexual preference in the past and I have abstained from commenting as to my opinion on the subject.
ME: “You’ll notice that I and others had no comment on that.”
I have opinions on same sex marriage that I will keep to myself because THIS IS A CROSSWORD BLOG!
I hope that explains my comment. @RestMyCase I am in agreement with you.
@Pookie – Thanks, Pookie, I appreciate the clarification! 🙂 Regardless of one’s opinions in that regard, the Saudi Arabian policy in my opinion is murder and can never be justified; hopefully we can all agree on that. 🙂
Hi folks!
After reading this lively discussion, I wasn’t sure whether to post tonight or just bow out of this group for awhile. I felt rather sad. So, I clicked on ALL the frog links, found most of them (I think!) then came to my senses.
This blog is such a wonderful place to visit, and it’s because of Bill’s great work AND because we all are friendly and avoid contentious exchanges. I would miss everyone if I stopped participating!
I’ll say that I mostly agree with you, Joel. I might have expressed it differently but I am NOT being critical –we’re all different. I also think that protesting, if done peacefully and wisely, can benefit our country. It’s good to express ourselves and be cognizant of what our elected officials do.
Well! Here I’m trying to say, “Let’s not get into contentious issues,” and I don’t know if I’ve now overdone it myself by sharing some general views. I apologize!
It’s SO hard to find a safe haven ANYWHERE online! I hope we can all stay friendly here….
Be well~~™✌
Well said, Carrie. Thank you!
@Carrie – Sounds to me like you agree with name-calling, hostility, and false narratives. This is a crossword blog, not a political blog to spew hate.