CROSSWORD SETTER: Martin Ashwood-Smith
THEME: None
COMPLETION TIME: 23m 46s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. “My Dinner With Andre” co-star Wallace __ SHAWN
“My Dinner With Andre” is a rather unusual 1981 film, written by and starring Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn. The whole film is a conversation between the two actors, although they do play different parts as the film progresses.
14. Early Web browser MOSAIC
MOSAIC was one of the first web browsers, and is the one that is given the credit for initiating so much interest in the World Wide Web. Many members of the team that worked on MOSAIC (one was Marc Andreessen) went on to develop Netscape Navigator.
16. Cadillac Ranch site AMARILLO
Cadillac Ranch is a huge sculpture consisting of Cadillacs half-buried in the ground, located in Amarillo, Texas.
19. Sanguine RED
“Sanguine” is such a lovely word, and means cheerfully optimistic. It also means ruddy or red in color, e.g. a sanguine complexion. It comes to English from Latin, via French as “sanguis” is the Latin word for “blood”. The interpretation of sanguine as meaning cheerful and optimistic comes from the medieval interpretation of the “four humors” of the body, the four bodily fluids (blood, bile, phlegm and black bile). If blood was the predominant humor in a person, than that individual had a cheerful outlook on life.
20. Royal Scots for more than three centuries STUARTS
The Royal House of Stewart (also Stuart) came to power in Scotland in the late 14th century, starting with Robert II of Scotland. The Stewarts extended their power to England and Ireland when the Tudor line became extinct as Queen Elizabeth I died without issue. James VI of Scotland became James I of England at that time. The last Stewart monarch was Anne, Queen of Great Britain who also died without issue, despite going through seventeen pregnancies. Assuming Prince William, Duke of Cambridge becomes the British Monarch one day, then there will be a Stewart descendant on the throne again. William is the son of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Diana was descended from the Stewart monarchs.
22. Not kosher TREF
According to Jewish dietary law, “kosher” food is “fit” to eat, and food that is not kosher is called “treif” (or tref).
24. First name in photography ANSEL
As an amateur photographer, I have been a big fan of the work of Ansel Adams for many years and must have read all of his books. Adams was famous for clarity and depth in his black and white images. Central to his technique was the use of the zone system, his own invention. The zone system is a way of controlling exposure in an image, particularly when there is a high contrast in the subject. Although the technique was developed primarily for black & white film, it can even apply to digital color images. In the digital world, the main technique is to expose an image for the highlights, and one or more images for the shadows. These images can then be combined digitally giving a final photograph with a full and satisfying range of exposures.
26. Mt. Carmel setting ISR
Mount Carmel is actually a mountain range, found on the coast of northern Israel. Haifa, the country’s third largest city, is located on the northern slope of Mount Carmel.
39. Contributing factor in ozone depletion COSMIC RADIATION
Cosmic rays aren’t actually rays at all. They are high energy particles that originate in outer space outside of our solar system. Cosmic rays interact with atoms in our atmosphere creating secondary particles that can reach the Earth’s surface.
41. Chumley’s title friend in a ’60s cartoon series TENNESSEE TUXEDO
“Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales” is a cartoon series that aired on television in the mid-sixties. Tennessee Tuxedo is a penguin who was voiced by Don Adams (the actor who played the lead in “Get Smart”). Tennessee Tuxedo’s sidekick is Chumley the Walrus.
42. 1989 Jay Presson Allen monodrama TRU
“Tru” was written by Jay Presson Allen and is a play about Truman Capote that premiered in 1989. There is a classic anachronism in the piece. The play is set in Capote’s New York City apartment at Christmas 1975. At one point the Capote character talks about suicide, saying that he has enough pills to stage his own Jonestown Massacre. The Jonestown Massacre didn’t happen until three years later, in 1978.
44. Half of a downpour? CATS
It has been “raining cats and dogs” at least since the 1700s, but no one seems to know the origin of the expression.
47. “Peg Woffington” author READE
Charles Reade was an English author who came to public attention with a two-act comedy play called “Masks and Faces”. Reade turned the play into a prose story in 1852 that he called “Peg Woffington”.
55. Hop-__-thumb O’-MY
“Hop-o’-My-Thumb” is a fairy tale from France. The story is also called “Little Thumbling” and tells of a small boy going up against an ogre.
59. Leader elected in 2005 POPE BENEDICT XVI
Did you know that Pope Benedict XVI released a CD since he took office? His Holiness is featured singing on an album released not too long ago by the Vatican. “Alma Mater: Featuring The Voice of Pope Benedict XVI Deluxe Edition”
62. Catholic recitation AVE MARIA
“Ave Maria”, or “Hail Mary” in English, is the prayer at the core of the Roman Catholic Rosary, which itself is a set of prayers asking for the assistance of the Virgin Mary. Much of the text of the “Hail Mary” comes from the Gospel of Luke.
63. Target of a Pasteur/Roux vaccine harvested from rabbits RABIES
“Rabies” is actually the Latin word for “madness”. The name is a good choice for the viral disease, as once the virus spreads to the brain the infected person or animal exhibits very tortured and bizarre behavior including hydrophobia, a fear of water. The virus is passed on to humans most often through a bite from an infected dog. It is curable if it is caught in time, basically before symptoms develop. Once the virus passes up the peripheral nervous system to the spine and the brain, there isn’t much that can be done.
Down
4. Comedian WAG
A “wag” or a “card” is a very amusing person, often quite eccentric.
5. Rock’s Lofgren NILS
The musician Nils Lofgren was a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band for over 25 years.
6. Exit lines TA-TAS
An Englishman might say “ta-ta” or “cheerio” instead of “goodbye”. Well, supposedly so!
7. “L’elisir d’__”: Donizetti opera AMORE
“L’elisir d’amore” is an opera by Donizetti, the title of which translates as “The Elixir of Love”. The opera is performed quite often today, as is the beautiful aria from the work called “Una furtiva lagrima”. “Una furtiva lagrima” translates from Italian as “A single furtive tear”.
9. Nevado __ Cruces: Andes section TRES
Nevado Tres Cruces is a massif in the Andes with two main peaks. The highest summit lies right on the border between Argentina and Chile.
10. Pack item? LIE
A pack of lies …
11. Steven’s wife on “Family Ties” ELYSE
“Family Ties” was one of the first TV shows that I enjoyed when I arrived in the US back in 1983. I found the situation very appealing, with two ex-hippie parents facing off against an ultra-conservative son. The main characters in the show were Michael J. Fox as Alex, Meredith Baxter-Birney as Alex’s mom Elyse, and Michael Gross as Alex’s Dad Steven. But some future stars had recurring roles as well, including Courteney Cox as one of Alex’s girlfriends and Tom Hanks as Elyse’s younger brother.
12. Tart fruit SLOES
The sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush, and is the flavoring that gives gin its distinctive taste.
13. Gray area? SOUTH
In the American Civil War, the South wore gray and the North wore blue.
27. Commercial fishing boat SEINER
A seine is a type of fishing net. It is long and thin, with floats along one long edge (the top) and weights along the bottom edge so that it hangs down in the water. A seine is usually paid out into the water from a boat called a seiner, as the vessel moves slowly in a circle driving fish into the center of the net.
30. Deer tail SCUT
A scut is short erect tail, like that on a rabbit or a deer.
31. Writing style TONE
When one writes, I guess the writing can can have a certain “tone”.
33. Indian titles SRIS
“Sri” is a title of respect for a male in India.
35. French noodle product? IDEE
“Idée” is the French word for “idea”.
36. Historic Egyptian lifeline NILE
From ancient times right up to 1970, the annual flooding of the Nile was a significant event in Egypt. The flooding allowed the deposition of fertile silt far beyond the banks of the river, helping the region’s agriculture. However, the flooding was unpredictable. So the Aswan Dam was built in the sixties and from 1970 the flooding was brought under control.
37. How vichyssoise is usually served COLD
Vichyssoise is a thick puréed potato soup that can be served hot, but is usually served cold. As well as potatoes, a classic vichyssoise contains leeks, onions, cream and chicken stock. Although the origin is disputed, it seems that the vichyssoise was invented in America, albeit by a French chef. That chef named his soup after the town of Vichy in France.
38. Greek war goddess ENYO
Enyo was a Greek goddess of war, a companion to the war god Ares. Enyo was also the sister of Ares, and the daughter of Zeus and Hera.
46. Not at all laid-back TYPE A
The Type A and Type B personality theory originated in the fifties. Back then, individuals were labelled as Type A in order to emphasize a perceived increased risk of heart disease. Type A personality types are so called “stress junkies”, whereas Type B types are relaxed and laid back. But there doesn’t seem to be much scientific evidence to support the linkage between the Type A personality and heart problems.
48. Selection word 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!
49. “Now seems it far, and now __”: Scott ANEAR
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist and playwright, the first English-language author to gain popularity around the world during his own lifetime. The most famous of his works are “Ivanhoe”, “Rob Roy” and “The Lady of the Lake”.
50. CD letters DDD
The three letter SPARS code on a CD label tells us whether analog or digital equipment was used in making the recording. Examples would be AAD and DDD. The first letter defines the type of equipment used in the initial recording, the second letter defines the mixing equipment, and the third letter the type of mastering. As a CD is a digital medium, the last letter is always a “D”.
56. Quatrain rhyme scheme ABAA
A quatrain is a group of four lines of poetry.
57. Labor pain? SCAB
We first started calling strikebreakers “scabs” in the early 1800s, and before that a scab was a person who refused to join a trade union (back as early 1777). The word probably comes from the use of “scab” as a skin disease, and so is a term that is meant to insult.
60. Common pair? EMS
There is a pair of Ms in the middle of the word “common”.
61. “We’ll let you know” letters TBA
To Be Advised (TBA).
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. “My Dinner With Andre” co-star Wallace __ SHAWN
6. Offensively blunt TACTLESS
14. Early Web browser MOSAIC
16. Cadillac Ranch site AMARILLO
17. Words of relief AM I GLAD TO SEE YOU!
19. Sanguine RED
20. Royal Scots for more than three centuries STUARTS
21. Salon job SET
22. Not kosher TREF
24. First name in photography ANSEL
25. Fit solidly MESH
26. Mt. Carmel setting ISR
28. Needle point?: Abbr. ESE
30. Food stamps, e.g. STATE ASSISTANCE
39. Contributing factor in ozone depletion COSMIC RADIATION
40. Without nostalgia UNSENTIMENTALLY
41. Chumley’s title friend in a ’60s cartoon series TENNESSEE TUXEDO
42. 1989 Jay Presson Allen monodrama TRU
43. Bit of a laugh HEE
44. Half of a downpour? CATS
47. “Peg Woffington” author READE
51. Way up STEP
55. Hop-__-thumb O’-MY
56. Ulterior motives AGENDAS
58. Galley propeller OAR
59. Leader elected in 2005 POPE BENEDICT XVI
62. Catholic recitation AVE MARIA
63. Target of a Pasteur/Roux vaccine harvested from rabbits RABIES
64. Sycophant YEA-SAYER
65. Stripes BANDS
Down
1. Sharp SMART
2. Big hit HOMER
3. It’s not for everyone ASIDE
4. Comedian WAG
5. Rock’s Lofgren NILS
6. Exit lines TA-TAS
7. “L’elisir d’__”: Donizetti opera AMORE
8. Daydreams CASTLES IN THE AIR
9. Nevado __ Cruces: Andes section TRES
10. Pack item? LIE
11. Steven’s wife on “Family Ties” ELYSE
12. Tart fruit SLOES
13. Gray area? SOUTH
15. Solution for lens transparency problems CATARACT SURGERY
18. Grayish brown DUN
23. Furnishings FITMENTS
25. Cleavers MEAT AXES
27. Commercial fishing boat SEINER
29. Body of art? STATUE
30. Deer tail SCUT
31. Writing style TONE
32. Professional gp. ASSN
33. Indian titles SRIS
34. Corresponding SAME
35. French noodle product? IDEE
36. Historic Egyptian lifeline NILE
37. How vichyssoise is usually served COLD
38. Greek war goddess ENYO
44. Patient responsibility COPAY
45. “Don’t make __!” A MOVE
46. Not at all laid-back TYPE A
48. Selection word EENIE
49. “Now seems it far, and now __”: Scott ANEAR
50. CD letters DDD
52. Deadly agent TOXIN
53. Hung over? EAVED
54. Schoolmarmish type PRISS
56. Quatrain rhyme scheme ABAA
57. Labor pain? SCAB
60. Common pair? EMS
61. “We’ll let you know” letters TBA