Day: October 25, 2013

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. City SE of Milan LODI
Lodi is a city in Lombardy in the north of Italy. The inhabitants of Lodi are known as Lodigiani.

5. Station occupant COP
The noun “cop” meaning police officer is short for “copper”, someone who “cops”, someone who seizes or takes.

8. Extended stays ABODES
“Abode” is the act of “abiding”, remaining in a place.

14. Dept. with a sun on its seal ENER
The seal of the US Department of Energy includes symbols representing various energy sources, including solar, nuclear and wind power.

15. Dish made in an oven called an imu POI
I am reliably informed by a blog reader that poi is not in fact cooked in an imu. Taro root might be baked in an imu, but that produces baked tarot root, not poi …

An imu is a type of underground oven that is used in the traditional Hawaiian cooking method known as “kālua”. The word “kālua” actually means “to cook in an underground oven”. The imu is a sand or dirt pit usually about three feet deep. A fire is built in the pit using koa wood and then rocks are placed on the fire. Once the rocks are sufficiently hot, the pit is lined with banana leaves. The seasoned meat to be cooked is also wrapped in banana leaves, as well as wet burlap. The meat “package” is surrounded by hot rocks in the pit and then covered with sand or soil. Cooking time is usually 6 or 7 hours.

16. With 66-Across, author of this puzzle’s quote SAMUEL
(66A. See 16-Across BUTLER)
Samuel Butler was a British novelist and satirist. His best known novels are “Erewhon” (1872) and “The Way of All Flesh” (1903). Butler also made translations of Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey” that are still widely used.

20. Super stars? NOVAE
A nova is basically a star that suddenly gets much brighter, gradually returning to its original state weeks or even years later. The increased brightness of a nova is due to increased nuclear activity causing the star to pick up extra hydrogen from a neighboring celestial body. A supernova is very different from a nova. A supernova is a very bright burst of light and energy created when most of the material in a star explodes. The bright burst of a supernova is very short-lived compared to the sustained brightness of a nova.

31. Legal appurtenance? -ESE
An appurtenance is an accessory, perhaps a piece of equipment for a specific task. It might also be an appendage, a suffix to a word, for example.

32. Barbary __ APE
The Barbary macaque is also known as the Barbary ape. The Barbary macaque is native to parts of North Africa, although there is famous population that lives in Gibraltar. The Barbary macaques of Gibraltar are the only wild apes or monkeys found in Europe.

37. Rich dessert TORTE
A torte is a type of cake made primarily with eggs, sugar and ground nuts (but no flour).

42. “… ‘Tis a pageant / To keep __ false gaze”: “Othello” US IN
Shakespeare’s “Othello” was first performed in 1604. The main characters in the play are:

– Othello, a general in the army of Venice
– Desdemona, Othello’s wife
– Cassio, Othello’s trusted ensign
– Iago, the villain of the piece

43. __ coffee IRISH
Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite claims to the contrary …

48. Hosp. readout ECG
An EKG measures electrical activity in the heart. Back in my homeland of Ireland, an EKG is known as an ECG (for electrocardiogram). We use the German name in the US, Elektrokardiogramm, giving us EKG. Apparently the abbreviation EKG is preferred as ECG might be confused (if poorly handwritten, I guess) with EEG, the abbreviation for an electroencephalogram.

50. Incentives to cooperate SOPS
Cerberus is a dog with three heads that appears in both Greek and Roman mythology. Cerberus had the job of guarding the gates of Hades and preventing those who had crossed the River Styx from ever escaping. A sop is a piece of food that has been dipped in some liquid, as one might sop a piece of bread in soup. There is an idiomatic expression, “to give a sop to Cerberus”, which means to give someone a bribe, or pay someone off. The idea is that if one could bribe Cerberus, give him a sop to eat, then he would let you pass and escape from Hades.

51. Tee sizes: Abbr. SMS
T-shirts might come in small, medium or large sizes.

60. It sometimes results in a double play LINER
Line drive (liner)

67. NYC subway overseer MTA
The MTA is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has public transportation responsibility in the state of New York (as well as part of Connecticut).

68. Three-point B, say TILE
The game of Scrabble has been produced in many international versions, and each of these editions has its own tile distribution to suit the local language. For example, in English we have two tiles worth ten points: one “Q” and one “Z”. If you play the game in French then there are five tiles worth ten points: one “K”, one “W”, one “X”, one “Y” and one “Z”.

69. Shakespearean title character ANTONY
“Antony and Cleopatra” is one of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, telling the story of the relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra after the death of Julius Caesar.

70. Handy skill for a gambler? ESP
Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

71. Leave in STET
“Stet” is a Latin word meaning “let it stand”. In editorial work, the typesetter is instructed to disregard any change previously marked by writing the word “stet” and then underscoring that change with a line of dots or dashes.

Down
1. British singer/songwriter Lewis LEONA
Leona Lewis rocketed to fame after winning the British TV show called “The X Factor” (the show that spawned the UK’s “Pop Idol” and America’s “American Idol”).

4. Feds concerned with returns IRS AGENTS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was set up during the Civil War to raise money to cover war expenses. Prior to the introduction of income tax in 1862, the government was funded by levies on trade and property.

5. Pro concerned with returns CPA
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

7. Two-figure sculpture PIETA
The Pietà is a representation of the Virgin Mary holding in her arms the dead body of her son Jesus. The most famous Pietà is probably the sculpted rendition by Michelangelo which is located in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. In some depictions of Mary with Jesus in her arms, mother and son are surrounded by other figures from the New Testament. These depictions are known as “Lamentations”.

9. Medieval helmet BASINET
A bascinet (also “basinet”) was a military helmet worn in Medieval Europe. The bascinet often had chain mail with extended downwards to protect the neck.

10. Novel that begins in the Marquesas Islands OMOO
Herman Melville mined his own experiences when writing his novels. Melville sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1841 on a whaler heading into the Pacific Ocean (a source for “Moby Dick”). Melville ended up deserting his ship 18 months later and lived with natives on a South Pacific Island for three weeks (a source for “Typee”). He picked up another whaler and headed for Hawaii, where he joined the crew of a US navy frigate that was bound for Boston (a source for “Omoo”).

The Marquesas Islands are known in French as the “Iles Marquises”. The Marquesas are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia in the Southern Pacific. In the 1500s the population of the Marquesas has been estimated at over 100,000. Then along come Western explorers, and western diseases. The Marquesas were hit the hardest by the introduction of diseases to which they had no resistance. By 1900 the ravaged population had been reduced to just over 2,000 people.

11. Bug for payment DUN
“To dun” is to insist on payment of a debt.

12. Member of the genus Anguilla EEL
The genus of fishes known as Anguilla is made up of freshwater eels. These ells spend their lives in rivers, lakes or estuaries but return to the ocean to spawn.

19. Legion NUMEROUS
The word “legion” can be used to mean “a large number”.

21. Richard of “A Summer Place” EGAN
Richard Egan was an actor from San Francisco. One of Egan’s more famous roles was playing Elvis Presley’s older brother in “Love Me Tender”. Rod Serling eventually chose to narrate his epic “The Twilight Zone” series himself, but his first choice for narrator had been Richard Egan. It was perhaps lucky that Egan couldn’t do the “The Twilight Zone” gig due to other contractual obligations, as Serling’s commentary added so much to the show.

“A Summer Place” is a 1959 movie based on a novel of the same name by Sloan Wilson. The film is a romantic drama starring Richard Egan and Dorothy McGuire. “Theme from A Summer Place” became a number one hit for Percy Faith in 1960.

26. Kurdish relative FARSI
“Farsi” is one of the local names for Persian, an Iranian language.

28. Hammer parts PEENS
The peen of a hammer is on the head, and is the side of the head that is opposite the striking surface. Often the peen is in the shape of a hemisphere (as in a ball-peen hammer), but usually it is shaped like a claw (mainly for removing nails).

34. “Don Juan DeMarco” setting HAREM
“Don Juan DeMarco” is a 1995 movie starring Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando and Faye Dunaway. Depp plays a modern-day Don Juan who dresses like Zorro and is getting psychiatric help from the Marlon Brando character.

44. Missionary’s target HEATHEN
Our term “heathen” comes from an Old English word meaning “neither Christian nor Jewish”.

46. Gem mined mostly in Australia OPAL
97% of the world’s opals come from Australia, so it’s no surprise perhaps that the opal is the national gemstone of the country. The state of South Australia provides the bulk of the world’s production, about 80%.

53. HBO series set in New Orleans TREME
“Treme” is an HBO series set in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. The show deals with the rebuilding of lives and culture are the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

55. Greenland native INUIT
The Inuit peoples live in the Arctic, in parts of the US, Russia, Greenland and Canada.

Greenland is the largest island in the world. Geographically, Greenland is part of the continent of North America, but culturally and politically is considered part of Europe. The island became a Danish colony in 1815, and joined the European Economic Community (EEC) with Denmark. Greenland withdrew from the EEC after a referendum in 1983. Since 2009, Greenland has been relatively autonomous, with the Danish government retaining control of foreign affairs, defence and the judicial system.

56. “Ally McBeal” lawyer NELLE
Nelle Porter is a character on the TV show “Ally McBeal” who is portrayed by actress Portia de Rossi.

“Ally McBeal” is a very successful television show that aired from 1997 to 2002. It starred Calista Flockhart in the title role, as a successful lawyer. I must admit, I never watched the show, but I am told by a kind blog reader that it’s good viewing. It was created by David E. Kelley, who is also the man behind other successful legal dramas including “The Practice”, “Boston Legal” and “Harry’s Games’. Kelley is married to actress Michelle Pfeiffer.

58. D-Day city ST LO
Saint-Lô is a town in Normandy that was occupied by Germany in 1940. Saint-Lo stood at a strategic crossroads and so there was intense fighting there during the Normandy invasion of 1944. After a prolonged bombardment, very little of the town was left standing.

59. York et al.: Abbr. SGTS
The marvelous 1941 film called “Sergeant York” stars Gary Cooper playing the WWI hero Alvin York. York was the most decorated American soldier in the First World War, and his story helped make the movie about his life the highest grossing film of 1941. For his heroism, York was not only awarded the Medal of Honor by the United States, but also the French Légion d’honneur (the highest decoration in France) and the Italian Croce di Guerra.

61. Legal org. ABA
American Bar Association (ABA)

62. One of the Poor Clares NUN
Clare of Assisi was one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Clare was the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies. The order still exists today and is now known as the Poor Clares in her honor.

63. Memorable Giant OTT
At 5′ 9″, Mel Ott weighed just 170 lb (I don’t think he took steroids!) and yet he was the first National League player to hit over 500 home runs. Sadly, Ott died in a car accident in New Orleans in 1958 when he was only 49 years old.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. City SE of Milan LODI
5. Station occupant COP
8. Extended stays ABODES
14. Dept. with a sun on its seal ENER
15. Dish made in an oven called an imu POI
16. With 66-Across, author of this puzzle’s quote SAMUEL
17. Some museum work OILS
18. Start of a quote A HEN IS ONLY
20. Super stars? NOVAE
22. Sitting setting STUDIO
23. Quote, part 2 AN EGG’S
25. “Hear, hear!” AMEN!
26. Self-obsessed sort FOP
29. Grub EATS
31. Legal appurtenance? -ESE
32. Barbary __ APE
33. Medium CHANNELER
37. Rich dessert TORTE
39. “Hold it!” HALT!
40. Quote, part 3 WAY OF
42. “… ‘Tis a pageant / To keep __ false gaze”: “Othello” US IN
43. __ coffee IRISH
45. They can be wound up NEUROTICS
47. Green shade PEA
48. Hosp. readout ECG
50. Incentives to cooperate SOPS
51. Tee sizes: Abbr. SMS
52. “It’s __!”: ballgame cry A HIT
54. Quote, part 4 MAKING
58. Goes right, e.g. STEERS
60. It sometimes results in a double play LINER
61. End of the quote ANOTHER EGG
65. Dominion RULE
66. See 16-Across BUTLER
67. NYC subway overseer MTA
68. Three-point B, say TILE
69. Shakespearean title character ANTONY
70. Handy skill for a gambler? ESP
71. Leave in STET

Down
1. British singer/songwriter Lewis LEONA
2. Source of some rings ONION
3. Probe, with “into” DELVE
4. Feds concerned with returns IRS AGENTS
5. Pro concerned with returns CPA
6. Expressions of wonder OOHS
7. Two-figure sculpture PIETA
8. Dramatic revelations ASIDES
9. Medieval helmet BASINET
10. Novel that begins in the Marquesas Islands OMOO
11. Bug for payment DUN
12. Member of the genus Anguilla EEL
13. Not straight SLY
19. Legion NUMEROUS
21. Richard of “A Summer Place” EGAN
24. Worry STEW
26. Kurdish relative FARSI
27. __ nerve OPTIC
28. Hammer parts PEENS
30. More jargony SLANGIER
33. Salty bagful CHIPS
34. “Don Juan DeMarco” setting HAREM
35. Bit of checkpoint deception ALIAS
36. Organ that may be caught EYE
38. Rural-urban transition area OUTSKIRTS
41. Sent by FROM
44. Missionary’s target HEATHEN
46. Gem mined mostly in Australia OPAL
49. All smiles CHEERY
53. HBO series set in New Orleans TREME
55. Greenland native INUIT
56. “Ally McBeal” lawyer NELLE
57. Welcome GREET
58. D-Day city ST LO
59. York et al.: Abbr. SGTS
61. Legal org. ABA
62. One of the Poor Clares NUN
63. Memorable Giant OTT
64. Orthodontist’s concern GAP

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