CROSSWORD SETTER: Barry C. Silk
THEME: None
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 19m 18s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Travelocity offering PACKAGE DEAL
Back in the mid-eighties, American Airlines opened up its electronic reservation system (called SABRE) to potential passengers, allowing customers to make travel reservations themselves. I remember using the SABRE system back then on CompuServe, and later on America Online. Travelocity was founded in 1996 as a subsidiary of American Airlines, and extended the SABRE concept so that customers could not only make reservations, but could also purchase tickets without the use of a travel agent. The site also offered booking of hotel rooms and rental cars, and offered package deals.
12. Bit of texting tact PLS
Please (pls)
15. Riverbend Festival city CHATTANOOGA
The Riverbend Festival is a music festival held annually in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The festival’s name is a nod to the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was founded.
18. Sporty cars GTS
GT stands for “Grand Touring” or “Gran Turismo”.
19. Mac OS part: Abbr. SYS
“Mac OS” is short for Macintosh (Mac) operating system (OS).
I always think of an operating system as that piece of software that sits between the hardware on my computer and the programs that I choose to run. Developers of application programs don’t really have to worry about being able to “talk to” the countless different types of hardware found in the wide variety of computers that are manufactured, they just need to talk to the handful of operating systems that are out there, like Windows, MAC and Unix. The operating system takes care of the rest.
23. Tabloid fodder DIRT
“Tabloid” is the trademarked name (owned by Burroughs, Wellcome and Co,) for a “small tablet of medicine”, a name that goes back to 1884. The word “tabloid” had entered into general use to mean a compressed form of anything, and by the early 1900s was used in “tabloid journalism”, applied to newspapers that had short, condensed articles and stories printed on smaller sheets of paper.
24. “__ Place” MELROSE
“Melrose Place” is a soap opera that originally aired from 1992 to 1999. “Melrose” was a spinoff of the hit show “Beverly Hills, 90210”. The show’s name comes from where the story is set, in an apartment complex with the address of 4616 Melrose Place in West Hollywood, California. “Melrose Place” was rebooted in 2009 (and some called “Melrose Place 2.0”, but was canceled after just one season.
25. Torrid ABLAZE
Our word “torrid” means “very hot, steamy”. The term is derived from ”the torrid zone”, a name given in the 1500s to that part of the Earth found between the tropics.
29. Mideast monotheistic sect DRUZE
The Druze community is a religious sect that is mainly found in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. The Druze split off from Ismaili Muslims (a branch of Shia Islam) in the 11th century.
30. Ramble on PRATE
“Prattle” is idle talk. The term comes via the verb “to prate” from the Swedish “prata” meaning “to talk, chatter”.
32. Monopoly needs DICE
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.
37. More sound HALER
“Hale” is an adjective meaning “healthy”. Both the words “hale” and “healthy” derive from the the Old English “hal” meaning healthy.
38. Vietnam War attack aircraft SKYHAWKS
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat attack aircraft that was developed for the US Navy and US Marine Corps in 1950s. Launched from aircraft carriers, Skyhawks saw a lot of action during the early years of the Vietnam War. John McCain was flying a Skyhawk when he was shot down and captured in 1967.
41. Ed O’Neill sitcom role AL BUNDY
Al Bundy is a lead character in the television sitcom “Married with Children”. He is played by Ed O’Neill, an actor who is currently making it big playing Jay Pritchett on the very entertaining show called “Modern Family”.
43. Cultural icon making her debut in 1959 BARBIE
The famous Barbie doll was created by businesswoman Ruth Handler and first appeared on store shelves in 1959. Barbie was based on a German fashion doll called Bild Lilli that was introduced in 1955. Lilli had been a German cartoon character before taking on a three-dimensional form. Prior to the introduction of Bild Lilli and Barbie, children’s dolls were primarily representations of infants.
48. Call for passage AYE
A sitting politician might vote “aye” to support passage of a bill.
49. Each of the two longest ones lasted 15 innings ALL-STAR GAME
Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game was held as part of the 1933 World’s Fair, held in Chicago. The longest All-Star games since then went to 15 innings, which happened twice: in 1967 and 2008. That 2008 game was the longest in terms of time, lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes.
52. Emmy winner Arthur BEA
Actress Bea Arthur’s most famous roles were on television, as the lead in the “All in the Family” spin-off “Maude” and as Dorothy Zbornak in “The Golden Girls”. Arthur also won a Tony for playing Vera Charles on stage in the original cast of “Mame” in 1966, two years after she played Yente the matchmaker in the original cast of “Fiddler on the Roof”.
54. Vessel measured in cubits ARK
The term “ark”, when used with reference to Noah, is a translation of the Hebrew word “tebah”. The word “tebah” is also used in the Bible for the basket in which Moses was placed by his mother when she floated him down the Nile. It seems that the word “tebah” doesn’t mean “boat” and nor does it mean “basket”. Rather, a more appropriate translation is “life-preserver” or “life-saver”. So, Noah’s ark was Noah’s life-preserver during the flood.
The ancient unit of length called a cubit was chosen as the length of the forearm. In some cultures a cubit was divided into 7 palms, the width of the hand excluding the thumb.
55. Egyptian expanse SINAI DESERT
The Sinai Peninsula is in the eastern part of Egypt, the triangular peninsula bounded by the Mediterranean to the north and the Red Sea to the south. It is the only part of Egypt that lies in Asia as opposed to Africa. The eastern land border of the peninsula is shared with Israel, and Israel occupied the Sinai during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Six Day War of 1967.
Down
1. Election figs. PCTS
Percentage (pct.)
2. Gob stopper? AHOY!
“Ahoy!” is a nautical term used to signal a vessel. When the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, he suggested that “ahoy” be used as a standard greeting when answering a call. However, Thomas Edison came up with “hello”, and we’ve been using that ever since.
“Gob” is a slang term for a sailor.
3. Small islands CAYS
A “key” (also “cay”) is a low island offshore, as in the Florida Keys. Our term in English comes from the Spanish “cayo” meaning “shoal, reef”.
4. Board jumpers: Abbr. KTS
Knights (kts.) are the only pieces on a chessboard that can jump over other pieces.
It is believed that the game of chess originated in northwest India, evolving from a 6th-century game called “chaturanga”, a Sanskrit word meaning “four divisions”. These four (military) divisions were represented in the game:
– Infantry (now “pawns”)
– Cavalry (now “knights”)
– Elephants (now “bishops”)
– Chariots (now “rooks”)
6. In abundance GALORE
Our word “galore”, meaning “in great numbers”, comes from the Irish phrase “go leór” that translates as “sufficiently, enough”.
9. Job listing letters EOE
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)
The abbreviation EOE might be seen in a classified ad.
11. The Explorers of the Atlantic 10 Conf. LA SALLE
La Salle University is a private, Roman Catholic school in Philadelphia that was founded in 1863. The school is named for French priest Jean -Baptiste de La Salle who is the patron saint of teachers. La Salle’s athletic teams are known as the Explorers, a name that is actually a little incongruous. The name was chosen by a sportswriter in 1931, as he thought that the school was named for the French explorer Sieur de La Salle. Regardless, the student body picked the Explorer name in a contest just one year later.
13. Mythological daydreamer LOTUS-EATER
The lotus-eaters were a race of people that featured in Greek mythology. The lotus flowers and fruits that were consumed were supposedly narcotic and addictive, and so the lotus-eaters enjoyed a life largely asleep in peaceful apathy.
14. Part of Larry King’s legacy SUSPENDERS
Suspenders is another one of those words that has morphed in crossing the Atlantic. Back in Ireland we hold up our pants (trousers) with “braces”. Suspenders hold up ladies stockings (i.e. our word for a garter belt). It can be confusing …
The television and radio host Larry King is from Brooklyn, New York and got his first job in radio in Miami Beach. Back then, he was using his real name, which is Larry Zeiger. It was suggested that he change his family name for use on air, just before he started to broadcast. Larry quickly opted for “King”, prompted by an ad for King’s Wholesale Liquor that he noticed in the “The Miami Herald”.
22. Indian honorific SRI
“Sri” is a title of respect for a male in India.
25. African Union Commission headquarters ADDIS ABABA
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia. The city is relatively young, having being founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II. Addis Ababa holds an important position within the nations of Africa as it is home to many international organizations that are focused on the continent.
The African Union Commission is a body based in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The Commission is the secretariat for the African Union, of which 54 African States are members. The only non-member state on the continent is Morocco.
33. One of the Nehru Planetarium cities NEW DELHI
New Delhi is the capital city of India. New Delhi resides within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (otherwise known as the metropolis of Delhi). New Delhi and Delhi, therefore, are two different things.
The Nehru Planetarium is the name of five planetaria in India, all named for the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The five facilities are located in Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Allahabad.
40. Predecessor of Nelson GERALD
Gerald Ford served as US Vice President from 1973 to 1974 under President Richard Nixon. Nelson Rockefeller served as Vice President from 1974 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford.
President Gerald Ford was well known for his athletic prowess. He was the star football player both in his high school and later at the University of Michigan. After graduation, President Ford received two offers to play in the NFL, from the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. He turned down both teams opting instead to take a coaching position at Yale giving him the opportunity to apply to Yale Law School. But young Mr. Ford’s plan backfired as Yale Law School turned him down because of his full-time commitment to sports: coaching football, boxing and teaching JV cheer-leading. It took three years for President Ford to make it into Yale Law School, but he finally got there, in 1938.
Nelson Rockefeller was Governor of New York from 1959 to 1973, and US Vice President from 1974 to 1977 serving under President Gerald Ford. Nelson was the grandson of the oil magnate, John D. Rockefeller.
42. __ dish PETRI
Julius Richard Petri was a German bacteriologist and was the man after whom the Petri dish is named. The petri dish can have an agar gel on the bottom which acts a nutrient source for the specimen being grown and studied, in which case the dish plus agar is referred to as an “agar plate”.
45. Alaska’s state gem JADE
Jade is actually the name given to two different mineral rocks, both of which are used to make gemstones. The first is nephrite, a mineral with a varying degree of iron content, the more iron the greener the color. The second is jadeite, a sodium and aluminum-rich pyroxene. As well as being used for gemstones, both jade minerals can be carved into decorative pieces.
47. Hall of Fame pitcher Blyleven BERT
Bert Blyleven is a former baseball pitcher known for his curveball. Blyleven now works as the color commentator for the Minnesota Twins.
50. Novelist Deighton LEN
I used to walk my dog right past author Len Deighton’s house years ago, as we lived in the same village in Ireland (probably my only claim to fame!). Deighton wrote the excellent espionage thriller “The IPCRESS File”, made into a 1965 movie starring Michael Caine.
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Travelocity offering PACKAGE DEAL
12. Bit of texting tact PLS
15. Riverbend Festival city CHATTANOOGA
16. Note IOU
17. Private collectibles? TOY SOLDIERS
18. Sporty cars GTS
19. Mac OS part: Abbr. SYS
20. Ghostly sound MOAN
21. Relax EASE UP
23. Tabloid fodder DIRT
24. “__ Place” MELROSE
25. Torrid ABLAZE
28. It may be fit for a king BED LINEN
29. Mideast monotheistic sect DRUZE
30. Ramble on PRATE
31. Taken HAD
32. Monopoly needs DICE
33. “Cool!” NEATO!
34. Thoughtless procedure? ROTE
35. Gross remark? ICK!
36. Difficult MESSY
37. More sound HALER
38. Vietnam War attack aircraft SKYHAWKS
40. They’re history GONERS
41. Ed O’Neill sitcom role AL BUNDY
42. Bottled (up) PENT
43. Cultural icon making her debut in 1959 BARBIE
44. Prefix with nautical AERO-
45. Poke JAB
48. Call for passage AYE
49. Each of the two longest ones lasted 15 innings ALL-STAR GAME
52. Emmy winner Arthur BEA
53. Split personality? CHEERLEADER
54. Vessel measured in cubits ARK
55. Egyptian expanse SINAI DESERT
Down
1. Election figs. PCTS
2. Gob stopper? AHOY!
3. Small islands CAYS
4. Board jumpers: Abbr. KTS
5. Reduce to mist ATOMIZE
6. In abundance GALORE
7. Proceed until END AT
8. “Whatcha __?” DOIN’
9. Job listing letters EOE
10. Accepted AGREED TO
11. The Explorers of the Atlantic 10 Conf. LA SALLE
12. Catalog PIGEONHOLE
13. Mythological daydreamer LOTUS-EATER
14. Part of Larry King’s legacy SUSPENDERS
22. Indian honorific SRI
23. Floor DAZE
24. Substantive MEATY
25. African Union Commission headquarters ADDIS ABABA
26. Construction worker BRICKLAYER
27. Sore loser’s comment LUCKY BREAK
28. Source of many orders BRASS
30. Irksome PESKY
33. One of the Nehru Planetarium cities NEW DELHI
34. Carry on RANT
36. More than just zealots MANIACS
37. Award winner HONOREE
39. Where some routes meet HUB
40. Predecessor of Nelson GERALD
42. __ dish PETRI
44. Perplexed ASEA
45. Alaska’s state gem JADE
46. From Hawaii, say: Abbr. AMER
47. Hall of Fame pitcher Blyleven BERT
50. Novelist Deighton LEN
51. Energy GAS