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Constructed by: Paolo Pasco & Erik Agard
Edited by: Rich Norris
Today’s Theme: None
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… a complete list of answers
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Bill’s time: 10m 35s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
1 Title toon toy-fixer with a magic stethoscope : DOC MCSTUFFINS
“Doc McStuffins” is an animated children’s TV show about a 6-year-old girl who fixes toys.
17 Tony-winning 2017 play about international diplomacy : OSLO
“Oslo” is a 2016 play by J. T. Rogers that dramatizes the behind-the-scenes negotiations that led to the Oslo I Accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Rogers came to write the play when he became acquainted with Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, who played a pivotal role in the negotiations.
20 Texas art patron __ Hogg : IMA
Ima Hogg was the only daughter of Jim Hogg, the 20th Governor of Texas. Ima became very wealthy after the discovery of oil on the family cotton plantation. She used much of her fortune to benefit the people of Texas, and became particularly famous as a patron and collector of the arts. Hogg lived until the age of 93. She never married, even though she confided in a friend that she had received over thirty proposals of marriage.
21 C or P, on a diamond : POS
They would be the catcher (C) and pitcher (P) on a baseball diamond.
25 It means nothing in Paris : RIEN
The French capital of Paris is named for the Parisii, a Celtic Iron-Age people that lived in the area on the banks of the River Seine.
27 Jolie 2010 title role : SALT
“Salt” is an entertaining action movie from 2010 starring Angelina Jolie in the title role. Evelyn Salt is a CIA operative accused of being a sleeper agent for Russia. Jolie wasn’t the first choice for the role, as the original intention was for Tom Cruise to play a male version of the character.
31 Pakistani prime minister __ Khan : IMRAN
Imran Khan was elected 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018. Prior to entering politics, Khan was a world-famous cricket player who captained the Pakistani national team 48 times.
36 Valletta’s island : MALTA
Valletta is the capital city of the island state of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. The city is named in honor of Jean Parisot de Valette, a French nobleman who commanded the resistance against the Ottomans at the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. With a population of about 9,000 (excluding the metro area), Valletta is the smallest national capital in the European Union.
39 “Little Miss Sunshine” Oscar winner : ARKIN
Actor Alan Arkin won his only Oscar (Best Supporting Actor) for his role in “Little Miss Sunshine” from 2006, a movie that I just did not understand …
41 Jewish youth org. : YMHA
The Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA) provide assistance for Jewish immigrants.
43 Monopoly figures : RENTS
The commercial game of Monopoly is supposedly a remake of “The Landlord’s Game” created in 1903 by a Quaker woman called Lizzie Phillips. Phillips used her game as a tool to explain the single tax theory of American economist Henry George. The Landlord’s Game was first produced commercially in 1924. The incredibly successful derivative game called Monopoly was introduced in 1933 by Charles Darrow, who became a very rich man when Parker Brothers bought the rights to the game just two years later in 1935.
45 Letters associated with a lion : MGM
There has been a lion in the logo of the MGM studio since 1924. The original was an Irishman (!), a lion named Slats who was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. However, it wasn’t until Jackie took over from Slats in 1928 that the roar was heard, as the era of silent movies was coming to an end. The current lion is called Leo, and he has been around since 1957.
53 Female in WWII : WAC
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was formed in 1942, and the unit was converted to full status the following year to become the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). I like a quotation from the front of the WAC physical training manual from 1943: “Your Job: To Replace Men. Be Ready To Take Over.” Famously, General Douglas MacArthur referred to the WACs as his “best soldiers”, saying they worked harder, complained less and were better disciplined than men. The WACs were disbanded in 1978 and the serving members were integrated into the rest of the army.
Down
3 One on top of an org chart : CEO
Chief executive officer (CEO)
4 1983 comedy about a stay-at-home dad : MR MOM
“Mr. Mom” is a 1983 comedy written by John Hughes that stars Michael Keaton and the great Teri Garr. The movie is all about an engineer in the auto industry in Detroit who loses his job and then takes over the running of the household while his wife heads back to work. It’s funny stuff …
5 Salad choice : CAESAR
The caesar salad was created by restaurateur Caesar Cardini at the Hotel Caesar’s in Tijuana, Mexico. The original recipe called for whole lettuce leaves that were to be lifted up by the stem and eaten with the fingers.
6 Flower pot holder : SILL
“Sill plate”, or simply “sill”, is an architectural term describing a bottom horizontal member to which vertical members are attached. Windowsills and doorsills are specific sill plates found at the bottoms of windows and door openings.
9 Lab annoyances : FLEAS
The Labrador (Lab) breed of dog has been around at least since 1814. The breed comes in three registered colors: black, yellow and chocolate.
12 Friend of Dory : NEMO
Pixar’s 2016 animated feature “Finding Dory” is a sequel to the megahit film “Finding Nemo”. “Finding Dory” seems to have built on the success of its predecessor and had the highest-grossing opening weekend ever in North America for an animated movie.
13 Abbr. aptly found in “compasses” : SSE
South-southeast (SSE)
28 Omniscient : ALL-KNOWING
Omniscience is the quality of having complete knowledge and awareness. The term comes from the Latin “omnis” meaning “all” and “scientia” meaning “knowledge”.
33 Unction : SMARM
“Unction” is another term for “anointing”. The literal sense has been extended to the figurative usage of “smarm, superficial and earnest language”
38 Norse war god : TYR
Týr is the Norse god of single combat, victory and heroic glory. According to legend, Týr showed great courage when he and his fellow gods were attempting to shackle the wolf monster called Fenrir. The wolf was tricked into accepting bindings that were actually magical ribbons of great strength. Fenrir submitted to the bonds because Týr agreed to place his hand in the wolf’s mouth, as a gesture of assurance that the ribbon was harmless. When Fenrir recognized the deceit, he bit off Týr’s hand. As a result, the god Týr is almost always depicted with only one hand.
42 Granada gal pals : AMIGAS
Granada is a city and province in Andalusia in the south of Spain. Granada should not to be confused with Grenada (note the different spelling), an island nation in the Caribbean that was invaded by the US in 1983.
44 Uncle Miltie of early TV : BERLE
Comedian Milton Berle was known as “Uncle Miltie” and “Mr. Television”, and was arguably the first real star of American television. Berle was hosting “Texaco Star Theater” back in 1948.
46 Annoyances in clouds : GNATS
Gnats are attracted to the smell of rotting food, and vinegar. Simple homemade traps that use vinegar are often constructed to attract and kill gnats.
54 Homer stat : RBI
Run batted in (RBI)
55 Many a “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” character: Abbr. : DET
Detective (Det.)
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is a sitcom set in the 99th precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn. Star of the show is “Saturday Night Live” alum Andy Samberg, who plays Detective Jake Peralta.
57 Long or short unit : TON
Here in the US, a ton is equivalent to 2,000 pounds. Over in the UK, a ton is 2,240 pounds. The UK unit is sometimes referred to as an Imperial ton, long ton or gross ton. Folks over there refer to the US ton then as a short ton. To further complicate matters, there is also a metric ton or tonne, which is equivalent to 2,204 pounds. Personally, I wish we’d just stick to kilograms …
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1 Title toon toy-fixer with a magic stethoscope : DOC MCSTUFFINS
14 Short-distance fliers : PAPER AIRPLANES
15 Philosophical consoling words : WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
16 __ hall : REC
17 Tony-winning 2017 play about international diplomacy : OSLO
18 Lead-in for time or point : AT NO …
19 Diamonds, in slang : ICE
20 Texas art patron __ Hogg : IMA
21 C or P, on a diamond : POS
23 Lab workers : TECHS
25 It means nothing in Paris : RIEN
27 Jolie 2010 title role : SALT
31 Pakistani prime minister __ Khan : IMRAN
32 Lock expert? : WRESTLER
34 “Cool beans!” : NEATO!
35 Prefix with grace : DIS-
36 Valletta’s island : MALTA
37 Journals : GAZETTES
39 “Little Miss Sunshine” Oscar winner : ARKIN
40 Runner on runners : SLED
41 Jewish youth org. : YMHA
43 Monopoly figures : RENTS
44 __ hug : BRO
45 Letters associated with a lion : MGM
47 German grandpa : OPA
48 Lose focus, with “out” : ZONE …
51 Rested : LAIN
53 Female in WWII : WAC
54 Track star? : RECORDING ARTIST
58 Action movie cry : BATTLE STATIONS!
59 Audio feedback? : I LOVE THIS SONG
Down
1 Moves in for a short time? : DANCE CRAZE
2 Special __ : OPS
3 One on top of an org chart : CEO
4 1983 comedy about a stay-at-home dad : MR MOM
5 Salad choice : CAESAR
6 Flower pot holder : SILL
7 State enforcement group : TROOPERS
8 Prosperous times : UPS
9 Lab annoyances : FLEAS
10 Securely : FAST
11 Advised of : IN ON
12 Friend of Dory : NEMO
13 Abbr. aptly found in “compasses” : SSE
14 Done in fragments : PIECEMEAL
15 Penned works : WRITINGS
20 “Wrong!” : IS NOT!
22 Not in fragments : ONE
24 Not at all popular : HATED
26 “In a perfect world … ” : I WISH …
27 Long look : STARE
28 Omniscient : ALL-KNOWING
29 “That’s not worth getting riled up over” : LET IT PASS
30 Carry on, as business : TRANSACT
33 Unction : SMARM
35 Reduce to bits : DEMOLISH
38 Norse war god : TYR
42 Granada gal pals : AMIGAS
44 Uncle Miltie of early TV : BERLE
46 Annoyances in clouds : GNATS
48 Ardor : ZEAL
49 Quadri- doubled : OCTO-
50 Grounding rule, perhaps : NO TV
52 Inclined to fight : ANTI
54 Homer stat : RBI
55 Many a “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” character: Abbr. : DET
56 River in Mexico : RIO
57 Long or short unit : TON
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