Day: October 26, 2014

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
5. Wood used in guitar-making ALDER
There appears to be heated debate by those in the know, about whether or not the type of wood used in the construction of electric guitars makes a difference to the sound quality. However, amongst those that value of wood choice, alder is the clear favorite.

19. Hefty volume TOME
“Tome” first came into English from the Latin “tomus” which means “section of a book”. The original usage in English was for a single volume in a multi-volume work. By the late 16th century “tome” had come to mean “a large book”.

21. Fiennes who played Lord Voldemort RALPH
English actor Ralph Fiennes comes from a very aristocratic family, as one might guess from his full name, Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. He is in fact an eighth cousin of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. Fiennes has played some nasty characters in his time, including the commandant of the concentration camp in “Schindler’s List” and the dreaded Lord Voldemort in the “Harry Potter” movies.

23. Forearm bone ULNA
The radius and ulna are bones in the forearm. If you hold the palm of your hand up in front of you, the radius is the bone on the “thumb-side” of the arm, and the ulna is the bone on the “pinkie-side”.

25. Sharp mountain ridge ARETE
An arete is ridge of rock defining the border between two parallel valleys that have been formed by glaciation. If the ridge between the valleys is rounded, it is called a “col”. However if it is “sharpened”, with rock falling way due to successive freezing and thawing, then it is called an “arete”. “Arête“ is the French word for “fish bone”.

32. Month named for a general JULY
Our month of July used to be called “Quintilis” in Ancient Rome. “Quintilis” is Latin for “fifth”, and it was the fifth month of the year back then. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Roman Senate renamed Quintilis to Julius, in his honor, which evolved into our “July”.

33. Russian-born Deco designer ERTE
Erté was the pseudonym of French artist (Russian born) Romain de Tirtoff. Erté is the French pronunciation of his initials “R.T.”

44. Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium city OMAHA
The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska has many notable exhibits. “Kingdoms of the Night” is the largest nocturnal exhibit in the world, and the “Desert Dome” is the world’s largest indoor desert. Founded in 1894 as the Riverview Park Zoo, it was renamed in honor of Omaha publisher Henry Doorly, whose widow made a large donation in 1963.

45. Class on an African river? CONGO COURSE (“concourse” plus “go”)
The Congo River in Africa is the second-largest in the world in terms of volume of water discharged. The Congo is named for the the ancient Kingdom of Kongo that was once located at the mouth of the river.

47. Zodiac symbol RAM
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”.

49. 1905 Peter Pan player Adams MAUDE
Maude Adams was an actress who was most famous for portraying the title role in the 1905 production of “Peter Pan” on Broadway. Adams was so well-received as an actress that she earned over one million dollars annually at the height of her success.

57. ’70s extremist gp. SLA
The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was founded in 1973 by an escapee of the prison system, Donald DeFreeze. The group’s manifesto promoted the rights of African Americans although, in the 2-3 year life of the group, DeFreeze was the only black member. Famously, the SLA kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst in 1974. Hearst apparently fell victim to what is called the Stockholm syndrome and became sympathetic to her captors’ cause. She joined the SLA and assumed the name “Tania”.

61. Muslim leaders IMAMS
An imam is a Muslim leader, often the person in charge of a mosque or perhaps a Muslim community.

67. Google an African nation? LOOK UP TOGO (“look up to” plus “go”)
Togo is a country on the West African coast, located between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east.

74. Striped cat TABBY
Tabbies aren’t a breed of cat, but rather are cats with particular markings regardless of breed. Tabbies have coats with stripes, dots and swirling patterns, and usually an “M” mark on the forehead.

75. Grammy winner Lena HORNE
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.

78. Mayberry sot Campbell OTIS
Otis Campbell is the town drunk on the sitcom “The Andy Griffith Show”, and was played by actor Hal Smith. The Campbell character was dropped in the late sixties as sponsors became concerned about being associated with heavy drinking.

81. Holier-than-thou sort SNOB
Back in the 1780s, a “snob” was a shoemaker or a shoemaker’s apprentice. By the end of the 18th century the word was being used by students at Cambridge University in England to refer to all local merchants and people of the town. The term evolved to mean one who copies those who are his or her social superior (and not in a good way). From there it wasn’t a big leap for “snob” to include anyone who emphasized their superior social standing and not just those who aspired to rank. Nowadays a snob is anyone who looks down on those considered to be of inferior standing.

82. Web portal letters MSN
MSN was originally called The Microsoft Network, and was introduced in 1995 as an integral part of Microsoft’s Windows 95 operating system. MSN is a whole bundle of services including email, instant messaging, and the MSN.com portal (which is the 9th most visited site on the Internet).

83. Cruise for drummers? BONGO VOYAGE (“bon voyage” plus “go”)
Bongo drums are Cuban percussion instruments consisting of a pair of drums, one larger than the other, The smaller drum is called the “hembra” (female) and the larger the “macho” (male).

89. Ryan of “The Beverly Hillbillies” IRENE
Irene Ryan was the wonderful American actress who played “Granny” on “The Beverly Hillbillies”. Ryan was remarkable in that she had a successful career in vaudeville, on radio and television, on film and on Broadway.

92. Spanish liqueur ANIS
Anis is a Spanish liqueur, equivalent to what’s called anisette in other countries (in France, for example). It has a licorice taste as it is produced by distilling the seeds of the anis plant. Like all anis-type drinks, it is usually mixed with water and turns a milky white color when the water is added.

93. High male voice ALTO
In choral music, an alto is the second-highest voice in a four-part chorus made up of soprano, contr(alto), tenor and bass. The word “alto” describes the vocal range, that of the deepest female singing-voice, whereas the term “contralto” describes more than just the alto range, but also its quality and timbre. An adult male’s voice with the same range as an alto is called a “countertenor”. A boy’s voice with the same range is referred to as an alto.

94. Historic Nevada city ELY
Ely is a city in eastern Nevada. The city was founded as a Pony Express stagecoach station. One of Ely’s former residents was First Lady Pat Nixon, who was born there in 1912.

95. Pasta sauce checkout line? PREGO REGISTER (“pre-register” plus “go”)
The Prego brand of pasta sauce is owned by the Campbell Soup Company. It is actually based on the family recipe of one of the company’s chefs. “Prego” literally means “I pray” in Italian, but it translates in English best as “you’re welcome” when it is used after a “thank you” (“grazie”, in Italian).

100. 1998 Apple debut IMAC
The iMac is a desktop computer platform from Apple introduced in 1998. One of the main features of the iMac is an “all-in-one” design, with the computer console and monitor integrated. The iMac also came in a range of colors, that Apple marketed as “flavors”, such strawberry, blueberry and lime.

109. Bangladesh neighbor INDIA
The independent nation of Bangladesh was established after the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, when the East Pakistan was seceded by the State of Pakistan. The struggle for independence really started when the British exited the region, dividing British India into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan in 1947. The Union of India became today’s Republic of India, and the Dominion of Pakistan eventually split into today’s Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

113. Stun gun TASER
Victor Appleton wrote a novel for young adults called “Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle”. The company that developed the TASER electroshock weapon named its product as a homage to the novel. The acronym TASER stands for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle”.

115. “__ Enchanted”: 2004 film ELLA
“Ella Enchanted” is a fantasy novel written by Gail Carson Levine, and published in 1997. It is a retelling of the story of Cinderella, with lots of mythical creatures added. A film adaptation was released in 2004, starring Anne Hathaway in the title role.

Down
1. RV connection? STU
In the alphabet, the letters STU connect the letter R to the letter U: RSTUV.

3. Bus lead-in OMNI-
We use the term “bus” for a mode of transportation, an abbreviated form of the original “omnibus”. We imported “omnibus” via French from Latin, in which language it means “for all”. The idea is that an omnibus is a “carriage for all”.

4. Last letter? DEAR JOHN
Apparently the term “Dear John letter” originated in WWII among American troops who were serving abroad. The servicemen highly valued letters from girlfriends and wives back home, and almost invariably those missives started out with “Dearest”, or “My Darling” or some other expression of affection. A curt, “Dear John” set the tone for a letter which was likely to contain news of a new love interest in the life of the girlfriend or wife.

5. Diamond pattern ARGYLE
The argyle pattern is based on the Campbell tartan. The Campbell clan is based in the Argyll region (note the spelling) in the west of Scotland, giving the Argyle pattern its name.

6. First name of boy detective Encyclopedia Brown LEROY
The “Encyclopedia Brown” series of children’s books feature the exploits of boy detective Leroy Brown. The books were written by Donald J. Sobol, starting in 1963.

8. Formed, on a bus. sign ESTD
A business (bus.) sign might include the word established (estd.).

17. On, in a way LIT
A bulb might be “on”, “lit”.

29. Western U.S. service station chain ARCO
The acronym ARCO stands for Atlantic Richfield Company. One of ARCO’s claims to fame is that it is responsible for the nation’s largest Superfund site. Mining and smelting in the area around Butte, Montana polluted the region’s water and soil, and ARCO have agreed to pay $187 million to help clean up the area.

35. Old MacDonald’s signature dance? FARMER’S TANGO (“farmer’s tan” plus “go”)
There was an American version of the English children’s song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” (E-I-E-I-O), that was around in the days of WWI. The first line of the US version goes “Old MacDougal had a farm, in Ohio-i-o”.

37. Out of fashion, in France DEMODE
“Démodé” is a French word meaning “no longer in fashion”.

43. Georgian Bay’s lake HURON
Georgian Bay in Ontario is a bay of Lake Huron. The bay was named for King George IV in 1822.

45. Tough heads CAPOS
More properly called a “caporegime”, a “capo” is high-ranking member of the Mafia (Cosa Nostra).

46. Maestro Klemperer OTTO
Otto Klemperer was a conductor and composer from Germany. Klemperer was a friend of the noted composer Gustav Mahler and assisted Mahler in the first production of his “Symphony of a Thousand”, one of the largest scale choral works in the repertoire. Otto’s son was Werner Klemperer, the actor who played Colonel Klink on the TV show “Hogan’s Heroes”.

51. Shrunken inland sea ARAL
The Aral Sea is a great example of how man can have a devastating effect on his environment. In the early sixties the Aral Sea covered 68,000 square miles of Central Asia. Soviet Union irrigation projects drained the lake to such an extent that today the total area is less than 7,000 square miles, with 90% of the lake now completely dry. Sad …

53. “Rescue Me” star Denis LEARY
“Rescue Me” is a television drama made for the FX Network. Star of the show is Denis Leary who plays a veteran New York City firefighter.

55. Native of Hokkaido AINU
The Ainu people are an indigenous race found primarily in Japan and parts of Russia close to Japan. The spoken Ainu language has nearly died out, with only a handful of native speakers alive today.

Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan, after Honshu. It lies to the north of the country, and its largest city is the capital, Sapporo.

69. Many a church song PAEAN
A paean is a poem or song that expresses triumph or thanksgiving. “Paean” comes from the ancient Greek “paian” meaning “song of triumph”.

81. Deliberate destruction SABOTAGE
There is a story that disgruntled textile workers would kick their wooden shoes, called sabots, into the looms in order to disable them so that they didn’t have to work. This act of vandalism was named for the shoe, an act of … sabotage.

86. Rescue team, briefly EMTS
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

92. Golfer with an “army” ARNIE
Arnold Palmer is one of the greats of the world of golf. Palmer is very popular with many fans of the game, and his followers are usually referred to as “Arnie’s Army”.

97. Kuwaiti ruler EMIR
The State of Kuwait sits at the northern tip of the Persian Gulf, famously sharing a border to the north with Iraq. After WWI, Kuwait was a Protectorate within the British Empire and then gained independence from the UK in 1961. Iraq annexed Kuwait in 1990, which led to the Gulf War of 1990-1991.

98. Israeli carrier EL AL
El Al Israel Airlines is the flag carrier of Israel. The term “el al” translates from Hebrew as “to the skies”.

101. Not exactly talkative MUM
The phrase “mum’s the word” has been around since the early 1700s. “Mum” has been used to mean “silent” for centuries, the idea being that “mum” is the sound made when the lips are tightly sealed.

102. Dangerous reptile ASP
The asp is a venomous snake found in the Nile region of Africa. It is so venomous that the asp was used in ancient Egypt and Greece as a means of execution. Cleopatra observed such executions noting that the venom brought on sleepiness without any painful spasms. When the great queen opted to commit suicide, the asp was therefore her chosen method.

104. Genetic 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.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Like many horses SHOD
5. Wood used in guitar-making ALDER
10. Bob up and down, say FLOAT
15. Five tenths HALF
19. Hefty volume TOME
20. Fill, as old water bottles REUSE
21. Fiennes who played Lord Voldemort RALPH
22. Sandbox boo-boo OWIE
23. Forearm bone ULNA
24. Irritate GRATE
25. Sharp mountain ridge ARETE
26. Distribute, with “out” METE
27. Fruit found in the back of the fridge? DIRTY OLD MANGO (“dirty old man” plus “go”)
30. Lyrical homage ODE
32. Month named for a general JULY
33. Russian-born Deco designer ERTE
34. Given the lowdown BRIEFED
38. Fish recipe instruction DEBONE
41. Claude’s “Thanks” MERCI
43. Salon service HAIR CARE
44. Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium city OMAHA
45. Class on an African river? CONGO COURSE (“concourse” plus “go”)
47. Zodiac symbol RAM
48. Get, as a degree EARN
49. 1905 Peter Pan player Adams MAUDE
50. Moderate pace TROT
51. Kid’s comeback AM SO!
52. Horse and buggy RIG
53. Slip LAPSE
54. Suppressed SAT ON
56. Belief system CREED
57. ’70s extremist gp. SLA
58. Newspaper issue for arrogant readers? EGO EDITION (“e-edition” plus “go”)
60. Lacking manners COARSE
61. Muslim leaders IMAMS
63. Place for worms? CAN
64. Places for outlets WALLS
65. Chilean lady SENORA
67. Google an African nation? LOOK UP TOGO (“look up to” plus “go”)
71. Shop __ you drop ‘TIL
74. Striped cat TABBY
75. Grammy winner Lena HORNE
76. Radio station, say AIRER
77. Excitement ADO
78. Mayberry sot Campbell OTIS
79. Hr. portions MINS
80. Super-small EENSY
81. Holier-than-thou sort SNOB
82. Web portal letters MSN
83. Cruise for drummers? BONGO VOYAGE (“bon voyage” plus “go”)
86. Bird with a hooked beak EAGLE
87. Events with tiaras PAGEANTS
89. Ryan of “The Beverly Hillbillies” IRENE
90. Adorn in relief EMBOSS
91. Newspaper fillers STORIES
92. Spanish liqueur ANIS
93. High male voice ALTO
94. Historic Nevada city ELY
95. Pasta sauce checkout line? PREGO REGISTER (“pre-register” plus “go”)
100. 1998 Apple debut IMAC
103. Pitchfork feature PRONG
105. Pay REMIT
106. More than some A LOT
108. Remove forcibly OUST
109. Bangladesh neighbor INDIA
110. IRS requirement for many E-FILE
111. Big-time blow GALE
112. Plate cleaners, at times UMPS
113. Stun gun TASER
114. Farm fathers SIRES
115. “__ Enchanted”: 2004 film ELLA

Down
1. RV connection? STU
2. Own HOLD
3. Bus lead-in OMNI-
4. Last letter? DEAR JOHN
5. Diamond pattern ARGYLE
6. First name of boy detective Encyclopedia Brown LEROY
7. Like some college majors DUAL
8. Formed, on a bus. sign ESTD
9. Surface again RE-EMERGE
10. Wrought-up FRANTIC
11. __-screen TV LARGE
12. Baking ingredient OLEO
13. Likely APT
14. Creative thinker THEORIST
15. Household skills class HOME-EC
16. More than impress AWE
17. On, in a way LIT
18. Entry price FEE
28. Sandwich fish TUNA
29. Western U.S. service station chain ARCO
31. Ominous DIRE
34. Business tycoon BARON
35. Old MacDonald’s signature dance? FARMER’S TANGO (“farmer’s tan” plus “go”)
36. Clears ERASES
37. Out of fashion, in France DEMODE
38. Bundles of energy DOERS
39. Terminal communication EMAIL
40. Inexpensive game with cards? BARGAIN BINGO (“bargain bin” plus “go”)
41. “Eek!” evoker MOUSE
42. Put a halt to ENDED
43. Georgian Bay’s lake HURON
45. Tough heads CAPOS
46. Maestro Klemperer OTTO
49. Volcanic fluid MAGMA
51. Shrunken inland sea ARAL
53. “Rescue Me” star Denis LEARY
54. Commercial interest STAKE
55. Native of Hokkaido AINU
56. Rose or violet COLOR
59. Picture of an envelope, e.g. ICON
60. Cleverly guarded CAGEY
62. Riot squad concerns MOBS
64. No __ for the wear WORSE
65. Treads heavily STOMPS
66. Greatly bothers EATS AT
67. Hungers LONGS
68. Roughly speaking OR SO
69. Many a church song PAEAN
70. Bit TINGE
72. Fan favorites IDOLS
73. Hoops may hang from them LOBES
75. Subtle suggestions HINTS
79. Financial drain MONEY PIT
80. Dilapidated buildings, say EYESORES
81. Deliberate destruction SABOTAGE
83. Leave in a hurry, slangily BAIL
84. Oil partner VINEGAR
85. Copier insert: Abbr. ORIG
86. Rescue team, briefly EMTS
88. Builds ERECTS
90. Upper crust groups ELITES
92. Golfer with an “army” ARNIE
93. Nimble AGILE
95. Sci-fi carriers PODS
96. Interest-lowering option, briefly REFI
97. Kuwaiti ruler EMIR
98. Israeli carrier EL AL
99. It’s called in class ROLL
100. Note in lieu of cash IOU
101. Not exactly talkative MUM
102. Dangerous reptile ASP
104. Genetic messenger RNA
107. Drink from a bag TEA

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