Category: Gareth Bain

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
9. Keister PRAT
“Prat” is a relatively new word for me, a slang term for the buttocks apparently. A “prat-fall” is when someone falls and lands on the buttocks.

Back in the early 1900s a “keister” was a safe or a strongbox. It has been suggested that this term was then used as slang by pickpockets for the rear trouser pocket in which one might keep a wallet. From this usage, keister appeared as a slang term for the buttocks in the early 1930s.

13. Big Island coffee region KONA
Kona coffee is cultivated on the Big Island of Hawaii, on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai, two of the five active volcanoes on the island. Coffee plants were brought to Kona in 1828 and late in the 19th century, coffee became a viable and worthwhile crop. Today Kona is a one of the most expensive and popular coffees in the world.

The island of Hawaii is often referred to as the Big Island, to differentiate the state from the island. Hawaii is the largest island in the chain, and indeed is the largest island in the whole of the US. It was on the Big Island that Captain James Cook was killed in a skirmish with the locals. The Big Island is my favorite of the islands (that I’ve visited at least). Some view it as very stark and less “pretty” than others, but I like the sense of “space” there. And I’m a SCUBA diver, so the Big Island has lot more coastline to explore underwater …

14. Sap-sucking insect APHID
Aphids are called “greenfly” back in the British Isles where I come from. The most effective way to control aphids in my experience is to make sure there are plenty of ladybugs in the garden (called ladybirds in Ireland!).

16. Put on board LADE
The verb “lade” meaning “to load” comes from an Old English word “hladan”. Lade also used to mean “to draw water” and indeed gave us our word “ladle”. So “lade” and “ladle” are close cousins.

17. Learning ctr. INST
Institute (inst.)

18. “Being John Malkovich” director SPIKE JONZE
Spike Jonze is a movie director whose first feature film was “Being John Malkovich” (1999). Jonze also directed a couple of films for which he wrote the screenplays, namely “Where the Wild things Are” (2009) and “Her” (2013). Jonze also co-created the MTV show “Jackass”. Can’t stand that show, said he grumpily …

“Being John Malkovich” is a 1999 fantasy comedy starring John Cusack and Cameron Diaz, and of course John Malkovich. The crazy storyline features a puppeteer (played by Cusack) who discovers a portal into Malkovich’s mind.

20. Bit of dust MOTE
“Mote” is just another word for a speck of dust.

22. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” co-star BRAD PITT
Brad Pitt’s first major role was playing the cowboy hitchhiker in the 1991’s “Thelma and Louise”. Pitt’s life offscreen garners as much attention as his work onscreen, it seems. The tabloids revel in the series of high-profile relationships in which he has been involved. He was engaged to Gwyneth Paltrow for a while, married to Jennifer Aniston, and he now lives with Angelina Jolie.

“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is a 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the title roles. It’s a fun film, sort of a melded romantic comedy and action movie. The film is noted as the first time Pitt and Jolie met, after which they fell in love and became the media’s “Brangelina” item.

30. Sean Lennon’s mom ONO
Sean Taro Ono Lennon is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Sean’s godfather is Elton John. Sean is a musician and composer, and has a band called the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger.

32. Three-time Hopkins role LECTER
Hannibal Lecter is a character created by author Thomas Harris, first appearing in his novel “Red Dragon”. Lecter also features prominently in “Red Dragon’s” famous sequel “The Silence of the Lambs”, and even more so in the third book, “Hannibal Rising”. The latter title is a “prequel” exploring Lecter’s childhood and development into a serial killer. Famously, Lecter was portrayed in the 1991 film version of “The Silence of the Lambs” by Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins also played Lecter in 2001’s “Hannibal” and in 2002’s “Red Dragon”. Lector was also played by Brian Cox (“Manhunter” – 1986), by Gaspard Ulliel (“Hannibal Rising” – 2007), and by Mad Mikkelsen (“Hannibal” – TV series).

38. Fictional archaeologist Croft LARA
Lara Croft was introduced to the world as the main character in a pretty cool video game (I thought) called “Tomb Raider”, back in 1996. Lara Croft moved to the big screen in 2001 and 2003, in two pretty awful movie adaptations of the game’s storyline. Angelina Jolie played Croft, and she did a very energetic job.

44. “Hawaii Five-0” actor Daniel __ Kim DAE
Daniel Dae Kim is an American actor who is famous for playing Jin-Soo Kwon on “Lost”. Kim now plays one of the leads on the CBS remake of “Hawaii Five-O”, portraying the character Chin Ho Kelly.

45. Cellular messenger RNA
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) is an essential catalyst in the manufacture of proteins in the body. The genetic code in DNA determines the sequence of amino acids that make up each protein. That sequence is read in DNA by messenger RNA, and amino acids are delivered for protein manufacture in the correct sequence by what is called transfer RNA. The amino acids are then formed into proteins by ribosomal RNA.

48. Ambien maker SEARLE
Searle is mainly a pharmaceutical company, and was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1888. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was Searle’s CEO and then President in the seventies and eighties.

Ambien is a brand name for the prescription drug Zolpidem. I have a friend who used to swear by it for helping cope with jet lag. I once had to deal with jet lag almost monthly and swear by the diet supplement melatonin, which you can buy over the counter here in the US. But, I am no doctor so don’t listen to anything I say …

49. Saddle storage area TACK ROOM
“Tack” is the term used for equipment used in riding or working horses. Examples of tack are saddles, stirrups, bridles, reins, bits and halters.

51. Longhorn rival SOONER
The University of Texas at Austin was established back in 1883. UT Austin is known as one of the “Public Ivies”, a publicly-funded university at which a student can get an education comparable to that provided by the Ivy League. The school’s sports teams are known as the Texas Longhorns, named for the Longhorn cattle that is now the official “large animal” of the state of Texas.

The University of Oklahoma was founded in 1890 in the city of Norman, as the Norman Territorial University. The school’s sports teams are called the “Sooners”, from the state of Oklahoma’s nickname.

The 1889 Indian Appropriations Act officially opened up the so called Unassigned Lands, land in Oklahoma on which no Native American tribes had settled. Once the Act was signed, those lands became available for settlement. Those people that settled the same lands illegally, prior the date specified, they were termed “Sooners” as their situation was defined in the “sooner clause” of the Act. “Sooner State” is now the nickname for Oklahoma.

53. Mandlikova of tennis HANA
Hana Mandlikova is a former professional tennis star from Czechoslovakia. Mandlikova won four Grand Slam titles and then retired in 1990, at the ripe old age of 28.

59. Promgoer’s concern ACNE
A prom is a formal dance held upon graduation from high school (we call them “formals” over in Ireland). The term “prom” is short for “promenade”, the name given to a type of dance or ball.

61. One of 28 Monopoly cards DEED
There are 28 deed cards in the game of Monopoly. There are deeds for 22 properties/streets, 2 utilities, and 4 railroads.

63. Jazz singer Horne LENA
Lena Horne was an American jazz singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne started out her career as a nightclub singer and then began to get some meaty acting roles in Hollywood. However, she ended up on the blacklist during the McCarthy Era for expressing left wing political views. One of Horne’s starring roles was in the 1943 movie “Stormy Weather” for which she also performed the title song.

64. Icelandic literary work EDDA
The Poetic Edda and Prose Edda are two ancient works that are the source for much of Norse mythology. Both Eddas were written in the 13th century, in Iceland.

Down
1. With hands on hips AKIMBO
Akimbo is such a lovely word, I think (as in “arms akimbo”). I failed to dig up anything too exciting about the term’s etymology. It seems to stem from Middle English, “in kekbowe” or “on kenbow” meaning “bend in a curve”.

2. Northern Mexican state SONORA
Sonora is the state in Mexico lying just south of the borders with Arizona and New Mexico. It is the second-largest state in the country, after Chihuahua.

3. GM navigation system ONSTAR
The OnStar system was developed as a joint venture between GM, EDS and Hughes. The product itself was launched in 1996. Today, OnStar is only available on GM cars, although it used to be offered on other makes of car through a licensing agreement. OnStar is a subscription service that packages vehicle security, telephone, satellite navigation and remote diagnostics.

5. __-relief BAS
In bas-relief an image projects just a little above the background, as in perhaps a head depicted on a coin.

8. Enjoy the Pacific Crest Trail HIKE
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) runs mainly through National Forest and protected wilderness. The southern end of the trail is near Campo, California on the US-Mexico border. The trail’s northern terminus is on US-Canadian border on the edge of Manning Park, British Columbia. The 2014 movie “Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon, is based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed who hiked much of the PCT by herself in 1995.

11. Carpenter’s tool ADZ
An adze (also adz) is similar to an axe, but is different in that the blade of an adze is set at right angles to the tool’s shaft. An axe’s blade is set in line with the shaft.

19. Leave at the altar JILT
To “jilt” someone with whom you have a relationship is to drop them suddenly or callously. “Jilt” is an obsolete noun that used to mean “harlot” or “loose woman”.

23. Expert on feet? POET
In poetry a foot is the natural unit of stressed and unstressed syllables which make up the work. For example, an iambic foot consists of an unstressed syllable, followed by a stressed syllable.

24. Foot part INCH
Our word “inch”, meaning a linear measure of 1/12 of a foot, comes from the Latin “uncia” meaning “one twelfth part”.

27. Tetley offering TEA
Tetley was founded by Joseph Tetley in Yorkshire in 1837. Joseph and his brother used to sell salt door-to-door from a pack horse and started to distribute tea the same way. They became so successful selling tea that they relocated to London. Notably, Tetley’s was the first company to introduce tea bags in the UK, back in 1953.

28. Estonia, until 1991: Abbr. SSR
Estonia is one of the former Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs) and is located in Northern Europe on the Baltic Sea, due south of Finland. Estonia has been overrun and ruled by various empires over the centuries. The country did enjoy a few years of freedom at the beginning of the 20th century after a war of independence against the Russian Empire. However, Estonia was occupied again during WWII, first by the Russians and then by the Germans, and then reoccupied by the Soviets in 1944. Estonia has flourished as an independent country again since the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

31. Doomed 1588 fighting force ARMADA
The most famous Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England in order to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I in 1588. It failed in its mission, partly due to bad weather encountered en route. Ironically, the English mounted a similar naval attack against Spain the following year, and it failed as well.

38. Old DJ’s platters LPS
The first vinyl records designed to play at 33 1/3 rpm were introduced by RCA Victor in 1931, but were discontinued due to quality problems. The first Long Play (LP) 33 1/3 rpm disc was introduced by Columbia Records many years later in 1948, with RCA Victor following up with a 45 rpm “single” the following year, in 1949.

39. India Pale __ ALE
India Pale Ale is a style of beer that comes from England. The beer was originally intended for transportation from England to India, hence the name.

43. Start of a selection process EENIE

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,
Catch the tiger/monkey/baby by the toe.
If it hollers/screams let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, you are it!

47. Actress Plummer AMANDA
The actress Amanda Plummer was born in New York City, and is the daughter of Canadian actor Christopher Plummer.

50. __ Island RHODE
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union, but is the second most densely populated. (after New Jersey). Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State, largely because about 14% of the state’s area is made up of ocean bays and inlets. Exactly how Rhode Island got its name is a little unclear. What is known is that way back in 1524, long before the Pilgrims came to New England, the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano likened an island in the area to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean. There were subsequent references to “Rhode Island” in English publications, before the colonists arrived.

55. Solitaire foundation card ACE
I think that a single-player card game is usually called Solitaire in the US whereas we use the name “Patience” back in Ireland.

56. Wimple wearer NUN
A wimple is a garment worn mainly in medieval Europe by women. The wimple covers the back of the head, neck and chin. It was tradition back then for genteel women to cover their hair. In modern times, habits worn by nuns include wimples.

57. Credit-weighted no. GPA
Grade point average (GPA)

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Beginning on AS OF
5. No ordinary party BASH
9. Keister PRAT
13. Big Island coffee region KONA
14. Sap-sucking insect APHID
16. Put on board LADE
17. Learning ctr. INST
18. “Being John Malkovich” director SPIKE JONZE
20. Bit of dust MOTE
21. Readies for another voyage REFITS
22. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” co-star BRAD PITT
26. Portions out ALLOTS
29. One making waves OAR
30. Sean Lennon’s mom ONO
31. Occasionally AT TIMES
32. Three-time Hopkins role LECTER
34. At hand NEAR
35. Slangily, overimbibe; literally, what the starts of 18-, 22-, 49- and 54-Across can do GET HAMMERED
38. Fictional archaeologist Croft LARA
40. Bakery array LOAVES
41. Promises PLEDGES
44. “Hawaii Five-0” actor Daniel __ Kim DAE
45. Cellular messenger RNA
48. Ambien maker SEARLE
49. Saddle storage area TACK ROOM
51. Longhorn rival SOONER
53. Mandlikova of tennis HANA
54. Nervous habit NAIL BITING
58. Prophet’s concern OMEN
59. Promgoer’s concern ACNE
60. Really enjoy EAT UP
61. One of 28 Monopoly cards DEED
62. Places for hats PEGS
63. Jazz singer Horne LENA
64. Icelandic literary work EDDA

Down
1. With hands on hips AKIMBO
2. Northern Mexican state SONORA
3. GM navigation system ONSTAR
4. Meant to be FATED
5. __-relief BAS
6. iPhone purchase APP
7. See 12-Down SHIRT
8. Enjoy the Pacific Crest Trail HIKE
9. Literary arcs PLOT LINES
10. Redeemed from captivity RANSOMED
11. Carpenter’s tool ADZ
12. With 7-Down, punny message site TEE
15. Make leaner DEFAT
19. Leave at the altar JILT
23. Expert on feet? POET
24. Foot part INCH
25. Wrecks completely TOTALS
27. Tetley offering TEA
28. Estonia, until 1991: Abbr. SSR
31. Doomed 1588 fighting force ARMADA
32. Gigs for 22-Across, often LEAD ROLES
33. Expressive rock genre EMO
35. Bribing GREASING
36. Rescue op EVAC
37. Smell bad REEK
38. Old DJ’s platters LPS
39. India Pale __ ALE
42. Shapeless mass GLOB
43. Start of a selection process EENIE
45. Didn’t stay put ROAMED
46. “Thanks, but I’m set!” NO NEED!
47. Actress Plummer AMANDA
49. Hackneyed TRITE
50. __ Island RHODE
52. Bibliog. catchall ET AL
54. Brief refresher NAP
55. Solitaire foundation card ACE
56. Wimple wearer NUN
57. Credit-weighted no. GPA

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