Day: June 21, 2014

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Image on many Oregon license plates FIR
Oregon licence plates have been decorated with an image of a Douglas Fir tree, ever since July 1988.

4. Drink containing the antioxidant lycopene TOMATO JUICE
Lycopene is a bright red pigment found in many red fruits and vegetable, such as tomatoes, carrots, watermelons and papayas. Lycopene is also used as a food coloring.

15. Rock genre EMO
The musical genre of “emo” originated in Washington D.C. in the 80s, and takes its name from “emotional hardcore”. Not my cup of tea …

19. Doesn’t start well? HOT-WIRES
To hot-wire a vehicle is to start it by bypassing the keyed ignition.

21. Georgia-based insurance giant AFLAC
In 1999 Aflac was huge in the world of insurance but it wasn’t a household name, so a New York advertising agency was given the task of making the Aflac brand more memorable. One of the agency’s art directors, while walking around Central Park one lunchtime, heard a duck quacking and in his mind linked it with “Aflac”, and that duck has been “Aflacking” ever since …

23. “Lassie Come-Home” author Knight ERIC
We owe the character Lassie to one Eric Knight who wrote a short story that he expanded into a novel called “Lassie Come Home”, published in 1940. “Lassie Come Home” was turned into a movie three years later, the first of a very successful franchise. The original Lassie (a female) was played by a dog called Pal, a male dog. In fact, all of the dogs that played Lassie over the years were males, because they looked better on camera, retaining a thick coat even during the summer months.

25. Nautical units KNOTS
A knot (kt.) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. Traditionally a vessel’s speed was determined by using a “chip log”. A chip log is made up of a wooden board attached to a line wrapped around a reel. The line (called a “log-line”) had knots tied in it at uniform spacings. To determine the vessels speed the board was thrown overboard and the line allowed to unroll. The speed was then the “number of knots” paid out in a fixed time interval.

26. Soup served with sour cream SCHAV
“Schav” is a sorrel soup that originated in Eastern Europe. It can be served hot or cold, and is usually garnished with sour cream. The name “schav” is a Slavic word meaning “sorrel”.

33. Cocktail with rum BAHAMA MAMA
If you’d care to try the drink called a Bahama Mama, one recipe is:

– 1 part rum
– 1 part coconut rum
– 1 part grenadine
– 2 parts orange juice
– 2 parts pineapple juice

35. Cocktail with sweet vermouth AMERICANO
An Americano is a rather tasty cocktail made from Campari, sweet vermouth and club soda. The cocktail used to known as the “Milano-Torino”, as Campari comes from Milano (Milan) and Cinzano vermouth comes from Torino (Turin). The origin of the “Americano” name is disputed. Some say that ‘Americano” is in honor of the drink’s popularity with Americans visiting Italy in the early 1900s. Others say that the name comes from the Italian “amaro” meaning “bitter”. Even though Ian Fleming’s spy is very much associated with a “vodka martini, shaken not stirred”, the first drink he ordered in the series of books was an Americano.

40. Old Venetian judge DOGE
Doges were the elected chief magistrates of the former republics of Venice and Genoa.

44. Food franchise initials IGA
IGA stands for Independent Grocers Alliance, a chain of supermarkets that extends right around the world. IGA’s headquarters is in Chicago.

50. Words to un caro TI AMO
In Italian, “ti amo” means “I love you” and “un caro” means “a dear”.

53. Nassau Coliseum player ISLANDER
The New York Islanders are an NHL team, one of three such franchises in the New York City area (along with the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers). When the team was founded in 1972 it was designated as a “Long Island franchise”, and it was expected to take the name the Long Island Ducks, but New York Islanders it was to be.

55. First Bond actor born after the Bond films began DANIEL CRAIG
I have not been a fan of Daniel Craig as James Bond (preferring Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan in the role). However, I saw “Skyfall” when it first came out and have been won over. “Skyfall” is one of the best Bond films so far, in my humble opinion. The first Bond film was “Dr. No”, released in 1962. Daniel Craig wasn’t born until four years later …

57. Charlton’s “Earthquake” co-star AVA
“Earthquake” is a disaster movie that was released in 1974 starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner, and many other big name actors. I remember seeing this movie in a Dublin cinema and experiencing the special effect that was marketed as “Sensurround”.

60. It includes the Jurassic period MESOZOIC ERA
The Mesozoic Era is also known as the Age of the Dinosaurs, as most dinosaurs developed during that time and the Era ended with the extinction of all dinosaur species (except the avian species, which developed into our modern birds). The Mesozoic Era started with another cataclysmic event, the so called “Great Dying”, the largest mass extinction in the history of our planet. During the “Great Dying” over 90% of all marine species and 70% of all terrestrial vertebrate species died off.

Down
4. Fibula neighbors TIBIAS
The tibia is the shin bone, the larger of the two bones right below the knee. The tibia is the strongest weight-bearing bone in the human body. “Tibia” is the Roman name for a Greek flute and it is thought that the shin bone was given the same name because flutes were often fashioned out of the shin bones of animals.

The fibula is the calf bone. The fibula lies beside the tibia, with both bones sitting under the femur.

5. Astrologer Sydney OMARR
Sydney Omarr was an astrology consultant to the rich and famous, and author of a horoscope column that appeared in the Los Angeles Times. While Omarr (real name Sidney Kimmelman) was in the US Army he even wrote a horoscope column for “Stars and Stripes”. He claimed that he got the job of writing for “Stars and Stripes” after having given a consultation to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

6. King’s demise MATE
In the game of chess, when the king is under immediate threat of capture it is said to be “in check”. If the king cannot escape from check, then the game ends in “checkmate” and the player in check loses. In the original Sanskrit game of chess, the king could actually be captured. Then a rule was introduced requiring that a warning be given if capture was imminent (today we announce “check!”) so that an accidental and early ending to the game doesn’t occur. The term “checkmate” supposedly comes from the Persian “shah mat” meaning “the king is helpless”.

9. Most fit to serve 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).

10. Lynne of ELO JEFF
Jeff Lynne is a singer-songwriter best known as the leader of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Lynne went on to form the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, along with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.

13. Element #20 CALCIUM
The name of the element “calcium” comes from the Latin “calcis” meaning “lime”. “Quicklime” is a common name for calcium oxide.

14. JFK announcement ETD
The Idlewild Golf Course was taken over by the city of New York in 1943 and construction started on a new airport to serve the metropolis and relieve congestion at La Guardia. The Idlewild name still persists, even though the airport was named after Major General Alexander E. Anderson from the first days of the project. When the facility started operating in 1948 it was known as New York International Airport, Anderson Field. It was renamed to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 1963, one month after the President was assassinated.

20. Brand used with wings WET-NAP
One might be given a Wet-Nap to help clean up after eating chicken wings.

24. Pro concerned with losses CPA
Certified public accountant (CPA)

27. 20th-anniversary gift CHINA
Some traditional gifts for wedding anniversaries are:

5th: wooden
10th: tin
15th: crystal
20th: china
25th: silver
30th: pearl
40th: ruby
50th: gold
60th: diamond

28. Czech diacritical sometimes called an inverted circumflex HACEK
A “háček” is a diacritic shaped like an inverted hat. Also called a “caron”, it is used particularly in Baltic and Slavic languages.

33. “__ Green”: Kermit’s song BEIN’
Kermit has to be the most readily recognized puppet character created by the late great Jim Henson. Henson came up with Kermit way back in 1955 when he appeared on a puppet show called “Sam and Friends” that aired in Washington, D.C. Kermit is loved so much that he even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

37. Title for Obama: Abbr. CIC
Commander-in-Chief (CINC, CIC)

46. Levitra competitor VIAGRA
Viagra is a trade name for the drug sildenafil citrate that is used primarily to treat erectile dysfunction. The drug was developed in the UK by Pfizer as a treatment for high blood pressure and angina, but the clinical trials showed that it induced penile erections. A decision was made to change the intended market of the drug and in 1998 it became the first orally-taken medication approved by the FDA for erectile dysfunction.

48. 2011 revolution locale CAIRO
As part of the wave of unrest known as the Arab Spring, protests in Cairo led to President Hosni Mubarak stepping down as ruler of Egypt in 2011. Mubarak was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 but was released in 2014.

51. City on the Moselle METZ
The city of Metz is in the northeast of France, close to the German border. Given the proximity to Germany, Metz has both a strong German tradition and a French tradition. Metz was handed over to the French following WWI, after nearly 50 years of German rule. It quickly fell back into German hands in 1940 during WWII, with many German officers delighted to have back the city of their birth. Perhaps because of this long association with Germany, the US Army under General Patton encountered stiff resistance when liberating Metz in 1944.

The Moselle is a river that flows through France, Luxembourg and Germany, entering the Rhine at the city of Koblenz.

52. Bar in the kitchen OLEO
Emperor Louis Napoleon III of France announced a competition to develop a substitute for butter, a substitute that would be more accessible to the lower classes and more practical for the armed forces. In 1869, a French chemist called Hippolyte Mege-Mouries came up with something that he called oleomargarine, which was eventually manufactured under the trade name “margarine”. The name “oleomargarine” also gives us our generic term “oleo”.

53. Camaro __-Z IROC
The IROC-Z is a model of Camaro, introduced in 1978. The IROC-Z takes its name from a famous stock car race, the International Race of Champions.

55. Mil. honor DSM
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is the highest (non-valorous) decoration awarded for services to the US military.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Image on many Oregon license plates FIR
4. Drink containing the antioxidant lycopene TOMATO JUICE
15. Rock genre EMO
16. “I’d have never guessed!” IMAGINE THAT!
17. Male __ EGO
18. Fight site BATTLEFIELD
19. Doesn’t start well? HOT-WIRES
21. Georgia-based insurance giant AFLAC
22. One way to shrink IN FEAR
23. “Lassie Come-Home” author Knight ERIC
25. Nautical units KNOTS
26. Soup served with sour cream SCHAV
31. “You betcha” YUP!
32. Bring in EARN
33. Cocktail with rum BAHAMA MAMA
35. Cocktail with sweet vermouth AMERICANO
37. Crusaded CAMPAIGNED
40. Old Venetian judge DOGE
44. Food franchise initials IGA
45. Enjoy on the sly SNEAK
46. Rancor VENOM
47. Magazine fig. CIRC
49. Menace at sea PIRATE
50. Words to un caro TI AMO
53. Nassau Coliseum player ISLANDER
55. First Bond actor born after the Bond films began DANIEL CRAIG
57. Charlton’s “Earthquake” co-star AVA
58. Redealt, say STARTED OVER
59. No. with a prefix TEL
60. It includes the Jurassic period MESOZOIC ERA
61. Close END

Down
1. Budget-squeezing announcement FEE HIKE
2. Response to “Did you clean your room yet?” I’M GONNA
3. Support ROOT FOR
4. Fibula neighbors TIBIAS
5. Astrologer Sydney OMARR
6. King’s demise MATE
7. CIA employees AGTS
8. Up to, in ads TIL
9. Most fit to serve ONE-A
10. Lynne of ELO JEFF
11. Not worthless UTILE
12. “Gotcha” I HEAR YA
13. Element #20 CALCIUM
14. JFK announcement ETD
20. Brand used with wings WET-NAP
24. Pro concerned with losses CPA
26. Military nickname SARGE
27. 20th-anniversary gift CHINA
28. Czech diacritical sometimes called an inverted circumflex HACEK
29. Make __ dash A MAD
30. Police vehicle VAN
33. “__ Green”: Kermit’s song BEIN’
34. Today MODERN
36. More, in Mexico MAS
37. Title for Obama: Abbr. CIC
38. Shake up AGITATE
39. Mooring areas MARINAS
41. Out, perhaps ON A DATE
42. Didn’t let bygones be bygones GOT EVEN
43. Shade of green EMERALD
46. Levitra competitor VIAGRA
48. 2011 revolution locale CAIRO
49. Diligent worker PLIER
51. City on the Moselle METZ
52. Bar in the kitchen OLEO
53. Camaro __-Z IROC
54. Statistic in baseball and hockey SAVE
55. Mil. honor DSM
56. Fifth-century date CDI

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