0910-14 New York Times Crossword Answers 10 Sep 14, Wednesday

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Missing links APE-MEN
The term “missing link” is usually applied to the concept that there existed some form of animal that is a hybrid between apes and humans. The idea that there was some “ape-man” is discounted these days by the scientific community, which now favors the theory of evolution.

14. Cleanser brand that “hasn’t scratched yet” BON AMI
Bon Ami cleanser was introduced just a few years after Bon Ami soap went to market in 1886. The cleanser was marketed by emphasising its “non-scratch” properties. The label showed a chick coming out of an egg, the idea being that a newly hatched chick hasn’t yet scratched the ground looking for worms and insects.

16. Styptic pencil target NICK
Alum is common name for the chemical potassium aluminium sulfate. Styptic pencils can contain alum as the active ingredient that stems bleeding from a small cut. The alum acts as an astringent, a compound that shrinks some body tissues.

17. Architect ___ Mies van der Rohe LUDWIG
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect who was routinely referred to simply as “Mies”. I am a philistine, I know, but Mies’ buildings look very plain to me. However, he did come up with two far-from-plain sayings: “less is more” and “God is in the details”.

18. Half an exorbitant fee? ARM
Something very expensive is said to cost “an arm and a leg”.

19. Prefix with matter ANTI-
In the world of particle physics, antimatter is made up of particles that have the same mass as particles of ordinary matter, but with the opposite charge and quantum spin. Mixing matter and antimatter causes the annihilation of both, with a release of energy equal to the mass of the particles according to Einstein’s equation E=mc2.

20. Riders in 10-Across ETS
Extraterrestrial (ET)

24. Fuel rating OCTANE
The difference between a premium and regular gasoline is its octane rating. The octane rating is measure of the resistance of the gasoline to auto-ignition i.e. it’s resistance to ignition just by virtue of being compressed in the cylinder. This auto-ignition is undesirable as multiple-cylinder engines are designed so that ignition within each cylinder takes place precisely when the plug sparks, and not before. If ignition occurs before the spark is created, the resulting phenomenon is called “knocking”.

27. “I need my ___” SPACE
So do I …

30. Coquettish sorts TEASES
A “coquet” is a male flirt, with “coquette” being the name for a female flirt. The word comes from French, and is the diminutive of “coq”, the word for a cock. A cock might well be accused of “strutting his stuff” around the chicken run.

41. Actor Jackie who’s his own stuntman CHAN
Jackie Chan is an actor from Hong Kong who is noted for his action and martial arts films. When Chan was 17-years-old he featured as a stunt actor in Bruce Lee movies. He also starred in the 1982 Hong Kong action film “Dragon Lord” which includes a fight scene that required an amazing 2900 takes, a record in the movie industry.

48. Cary of “The Princess Bride” ELWES
Cary Elwes is an English actor, most noted for appearing in the 1987 film “The Princess Bride”. Cary is the son of a celebrated English portrait painter, Dominick Elwes.

“The Princess Bride” is a novel by William Goldman written in 1973. Famously, the book was adapted into a 1987 film of the same name directed by Rob Reiner that has become a cult classic.

52. Sinatra’s big band leader DORSEY
Tommy Dorsey was a jazz trombonist and bandleader in the Big Band era, and the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. One of Tommy’s singers was Frank Sinatra, whom he hired from bandleader Harry James in 1940. Sinatra claimed that he learned breath control from watching Tommy Dorsey play the trombone.

56. ___ alai JAI
Even though jai alai is often said to be the fastest sport in the world because of the speed of the ball, in fact golf balls usually get going at a greater clip. Although, as a blog reader once pointed out to me, you don’t have to catch a golf ball …

60. Mauna ___ LOA
Mauna Loa on the “big island” of Hawaii is the largest volcano on the planet (in terms of volume). The name “Mauna Loa” is Hawaiian for “Long Mountain”.

64. Cameron of “Bad Teacher” DIAZ
The Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz started out her professional life as a model. Diaz’s first acting role was in the 1994 film “The Mask”, starring alongside Jim Carrey.

“Bad Teacher” is a 2011 comedy starring Cameron Diaz as a middle school teacher trying to skate by in her teaching job while she earns enough money for breast enlargement surgery.

65. Electric bill abbr. KWH
The kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of energy, made up of the product of power (kilowatts – kW) and time (hour – h). We see “kWh” all the time, on our electric bills.

68. Recent U.S.N.A. graduate: Abbr. ENS
Ensign is (usually) the most junior rank of commissioned officer in the armed forces. The name comes from the tradition that the junior officer would be given the task of carrying the ensign flag.

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is located in Annapolis, Maryland. The USNA was founded in 1845 and educates officers for both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. The motto of the USNA is “Ex Scientia Tridens”, which translates as “From Knowledge, Sea Power”.

Down
4. Gaping mouth MAW
“Maw” is a term used to describe the mouth or stomach of a carnivorous animal. “Maw” is also used as slang for the mouth or stomach of a greedy person.

5. Universal Music Group label EMI
EMI was a British music company, with the acronym originally standing for Electric and Musical Industries.

The Big Four recording labels were (until EMI was broken up in 2012 and absorbed by what became “the Big Three”):

1. Universal Music Group
2. Sony Music Entertainment
3. Warner Music Group
4. EMI

6. Like all World Series games, now NIGHT
The first World Series game schedule to be played at night was in 1971, at Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh. Night games are now the norm, a choice driven by the size of the television audience. The last day game was Game 6 of the 1987 World Series.

7. Tecumseh’s tribe SHAWNEE
Tecumseh was a leader of the Shawnee nation who pulled together a large tribal confederacy that opposed the US in what became known as Tecumseh’s War. Tecumseh’s War spilled over into the War of 1812 when Tecumseh’s confederacy became an ally of the British. Tecumseh was killed in 1813 by American forces at the Battle of the Thames, after which his confederacy disintegrated.

9. Bandoleer filler AMMO
A “bandolier” (also “bandoleer”) is a belt with small pockets that hold ammunition. A bandolier is usually worn over the shoulders, rather than around the waist. The term derives from the Spanish “banda” meaning “scarf, sash”.

12. The black pawns, e.g. OCTET
In the game of chess, the pawns are the weakest pieces on the board. A pawn that can make it to the opposite of the board can be “promoted” to a piece of choice, usually a queen. Using promotion of pawns, it is possible for a player to have two or more queens on the board at one time. However, standard chess sets come with only one queen per side, so a captured rook is often used as the second queen by placing it on the board upside down.

13. Washington pro team, informally SKINS
The Washington Redskins NFL team were founded as the Boston Braves in 1932. The following year, the team moved to Fenway Park and the franchise name was changed to the Boston Redskins. The Redskins relocated to Washington in 1937.

23. “Aloha Oe” instrument, for short UKE
“Aloha ‘Oe” is a song of Hawaii composed by Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii and her only queen. The title translates as “Farewell to Thee”.

25. Part of C.D.: Abbr. CERT
A certificate of deposit (CD) is like a less-flexible and higher-paying savings account. Instead of depositing money into a savings account and earning interest periodically, one can open a CD. With a CD one deposits a minimum amount of money but must leave it there for a specified length of time. In return for committing the funds for a fixed period, one is given a higher interest rate than a savings account and can redeem that interest and the initial deposit when the term has expired. CDs are relatively low-risk investments as they are FDIC insured, just like savings accounts.

36. Tennis great Lacoste RENE
René Lacoste was a French tennis player who went into the clothing business, and came up with a more comfortable shirt that players could use. This became known as a “tennis shirt”. When it was adopted for use in the sport of polo, the shirts also became known as “polo shirts”. And then the “golf shirt” is basically the same thing.

37. Secret Service’s charge: Abbr. PRES
The Secret Service was created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, with the mission of fighting currency counterfeiters. The additional task of protecting the US President was added by Congress in 1902 following the assassination of President William McKinley in the prior year. Only one Secret Service agent has given his life in the course of an assassination attempt. That was Private Leslie Coffelt, who was killed when two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to assassinate President Harry S. Truman in 1950 while he was residing in Blair House.

40. Jolly Roger crewman SMEE
In J. M. Barrie’s play and novel about Peter Pan, Smee is one of Captain Hook’s pirates and is Hook’s right-hand man. Smee is described by Barrie as being “Irish” and “a man who stabbed without offence”. Nice guy! Captain Hook and Smee sail on the pirate ship called the Jolly Roger.

45. Gillette brand ATRA
Fortunately for crossword setters, the Atra razor was introduced by Gillette in 1977. The Atra was sold as the Contour in some markets and its derivative products are still around today.

47. Halsey or Nimitz: Abbr. ADM
Vice Admiral William Halsey’s flagship was the USS Enterprise, the ship he was on board in the Pacific when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Apparently right after the attack, he remarked, “Before we’re through with ’em, the Japanese language will only be spoken in hell.”

Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz is perhaps best remembered as the commander of fleet operations in the Pacific in WWII. Above and beyond the many honors formally awarded to Admiral Nimitz, he was chosen in 1945 to sign the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on the decks of the Missouri, as the official representative of his country.

50. Eyelashes, anatomically CILIA
“Cilia” is the Latin for “eyelash”.

51. For the birds? AVIAN
“Avis” is the Latin word for a bird, giving rise to our adjective “avian” meaning “relating to birds”.

55. Sommer of “A Shot in the Dark” ELKE
Elke Sommer is a German-born actress who was at the height of her success on the silver screen in the sixties. Sommer won a Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer Actress for her role opposite Paul Newman in 1964’s “The Prize”. She also sings and has released several albums. Now Sommer focuses on painting, producing artwork that is strongly influenced by the work of Marc Chagall.

“A Shot in the Dark” is the second of “The Pink Panther”series, released in 1964. The main character is Inspector Jacques Clouseau, played brilliantly by Peter Sellers. This one is a lot of fun …

56. Oscar winner Dench JUDI
Dame Judi Dench is an outstanding English actress, known for decades in her home country mainly as a stage and television actress. Dench’s film career took off in the nineties with a relatively trivial role as “M” in the James Bond series of films. Since then she has played leading roles in several excellent movies including “Shakespeare in Love”, “Mrs. Brown” and “Notes on a Scandal”.

57. Love, in Lisbon AMOR
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. Lisbon is the westernmost capital city in Europe, and indeed is the westernmost large city on the continent. It is also the oldest city in Western Europe and is hundreds of years older than London, Paris and Rome.

62. WKRP’s Nessman LES
Les Nessman is a character in the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinatti”. Nessman is the shy balding guy who always wears a bow tie.

The sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” was produced by MTM, the production company established by Mary Tyler Moore and her husband for the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. “WKRP” was a successful enough show when it originally aired, but then became a blockbuster in syndication. It became MTM’s most-watched program, even outstripping the original “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Missing links APE-MEN
7. Place for a mud bath SPA
10. Abductees’ destinations, in some hard-to-believe stories UFOS
14. Cleanser brand that “hasn’t scratched yet” BON AMI
15. Shorten, perhaps HEM
16. Styptic pencil target NICK
17. Architect ___ Mies van der Rohe LUDWIG
18. Half an exorbitant fee? ARM
19. Prefix with matter ANTI-
20. Riders in 10-Across ETS
21. “What’s goin’ on?” HOW YOU BEEN?
24. Fuel rating OCTANE
26. Motorized racers KARTS
27. “I need my ___” SPACE
30. Coquettish sorts TEASES
32. “Let’s shake!” PUT ‘ER THERE!
34. Celestial strings HARP
38. Inheritance tax target ESTATE
39. “Yours truly” alternative AS EVER
41. Actor Jackie who’s his own stuntman CHAN
42. “Don’t worry, I’m O.K.” NO HARM DONE
46. Scoundrel BAD LOT
48. Cary of “The Princess Bride” ELWES
49. Online birthday greeting E-CARD
52. Sinatra’s big band leader DORSEY
54. “Hand it over!” GIVE ME THAT!
56. ___ alai JAI
59. Be caught in ___ A LIE
60. Mauna ___ LOA
61. Some collectors’ “vinyl” ALBUMS
64. Cameron of “Bad Teacher” DIAZ
65. Electric bill abbr. KWH
66. Turn the page, say READ ON
67. Common-sense SANE
68. Recent U.S.N.A. graduate: Abbr. ENS
69. Where you might see the message formed by the last words in 21-, 32-, 42- and 54-Across T-SHIRT

Down
1. Up to the job ABLE
2. Wear a puss POUT
3. Some touchdown scorers ENDS
4. Gaping mouth MAW
5. Universal Music Group label EMI
6. Like all World Series games, now NIGHT
7. Tecumseh’s tribe SHAWNEE
8. How salaries or rainfall may be reported PER YEAR
9. Bandoleer filler AMMO
10. In an open, no-apologies manner UNABASHEDLY
11. In better condition, to collectors FINER
12. The black pawns, e.g. OCTET
13. Washington pro team, informally SKINS
22. “I do solemnly swear …,” e.g. OATH
23. “Aloha Oe” instrument, for short UKE
24. Beachgoer’s cooler-offer OCEAN BREEZE
25. Part of C.D.: Abbr. CERT
27. Design detail, briefly SPEC
28. Market aggressively PUSH
29. Lead-in to “boy!” or “girl!” ATTA
31. Blacken on a barbecue SEAR
33. Watch over TEND
35. Say for certain AVOW
36. Tennis great Lacoste RENE
37. Secret Service’s charge: Abbr. PRES
40. Jolly Roger crewman SMEE
43. Historic section of a city OLD TOWN
44. Big kerfuffles HOO-HAHS
45. Gillette brand ATRA
47. Halsey or Nimitz: Abbr. ADM
49. “OMG!,” old-style EGADS!
50. Eyelashes, anatomically CILIA
51. For the birds? AVIAN
53. Boot up START
55. Sommer of “A Shot in the Dark” ELKE
56. Oscar winner Dench JUDI
57. Love, in Lisbon AMOR
58. “___ it ironic?” ISN’T
62. WKRP’s Nessman LES
63. “Rubbish!” BAH!

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