0721-15 New York Times Crossword Answers 21 Jul 15, Tuesday

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CROSSWORD SETTER: David Phillips
THEME: It’s in the Bag … each of today’s themed answers starts with a type of BAG:

56A. “We have this won” … or what could be said about each of the first words of the answers to the starred clues : IT’S IN THE BAG

16A. *”Hawaii Five-O” catchphrase : BOOK ‘EM, DANNO (giving “book bag”)
22A. *Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck, e.g. : TEA PARTIER (giving “teabag”)
35A. *History channel show frequently set in Canada or Alaska : ICE ROAD TRUCKERS (giving “ice bag”)
45A. *Structure built from the ground up? : SANDCASTLE (giving “sandbag”)

BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 7m 12s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across

4. Japanese W.W. II conquest : BURMA
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is the official name of the Asian country that some nations still recognize as the Union of Burma.

9. Eye of the tigre? : OJO
In Spanish, one might look a tiger (tigre) in the eye (ojo).

12. Noggin knocks : BOPS
A slang term for a “head” might be “bean” or “noggin”.

14. “Dido and ___” (Purcell opera) : AENEAS
The opera “Dido and Aeneas” was written by English Baroque composer Henry Purcell. The story was taken from Virgil’s epic poem “Aeneid” and tells of the love affair between Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, the Trojan hero.

15. ___ Paulo, Brazil : SAO
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. São Paulo is also the city with the highest number of helicopters in the world. This is partly driven by the horrendous traffic jams in São Paulo, but also by the wealthy having a very real fear of being kidnapped on the city’s streets.

16. *”Hawaii Five-O” catchphrase : BOOK ‘EM, DANNO
Danny Williams is a character on the TV show “Hawaii Five-O”, both in the original version that first aired in 1968 and in the remake that was first broadcast in 2010. The original, “Danno” is played by James McArthur. In the remake, Danno is played by Scott Caan, son of Hollywood actor James Caan. Book ‘em, Danno!

18. Popular gossip website : TMZ
TMZ.com is a celebrity gossip web site launched in 2005. “TMZ” stands for “thirty-mile zone”, a reference to the “studio zone” in Los Angeles. The studio zone is circular in shape with a 30-mile radius centered on the intersection of West Beverly Boulevard and North La Cienega Boulevard.

20. Rush experienced during a movie? : GEOFFREY
Geoffrey Rush is an Australian actor who has won an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award, the so called “Triple Crown of Acting”. Rush won his Academy Award for the 1996 film “Shine”, his Tony Award for “Exit the King” in 2009, and his Emmy Award for 2004’s “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”.

22. *Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck, e.g. : TEA PARTIER
When John McCain selected Sarah Palin as candidate for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she became the first Alaskan to go on the national ticket for a major party. She also became the first woman nominated for Vice President by the Republican Party.

Glenn Beck ss a political commentator who leans to the right, and so is a big star on the Fox News Channel. He has a had a rough life. His parents divorced, and his mother committed suicide by jumping out of a small boat in Puget Sound. Glenn Beck himself got divorced from his first wife, with her leaving him due to his struggles with substance abuse. He is now married for a second time, and living the quiet life in Connecticut.

24. Fleur-de-___ : LIS
“Lys” (also “lis”) is the French word for “lily”, as in “fleur-de-lys”, the heraldic symbol often associated with the French monarchy.

25. Title for Winston Churchill : SIR
Winston Churchill worked as a war correspondent during the Second Boer War. After only a few weeks in the front lines, he was captured with British troops while traveling in an armoured train. Churchill was imprisoned in a POW camp in Pretoria. He managed to escape and traveled almost 300 miles to safety. Reports of his escape led to churchill becoming somewhat of a hero back in Britain.

28. Cheryl of “Charlie’s Angels” : LADD
Cheryl Ladd’s most famous role was Kris Monroe in television’s “Charlie’s Angels”. Ladd replaced Farrah Fawcett-Majors when the latter opted out of the show. Cheryl Ladd was the daughter-in-law of famed Hollywood actor Alan Ladd, as she was married to Ladd’s son, David. After the couple divorced, Cheryl retained the Ladd name.

34. Classic comics character since 1941 : ARCHIE
Archie Andrews was the main character in a comic book series introduced in 1941 by Archie Comics. Archie was such a successful character that he went on to appear in a radio series, a syndicated comic strip and two television cartoon shows. Famously, Archie got himself in a love triangle with Betty Cooper, the girl next door, and Veronica Lodge, the only child of the richest man in town.

35. *History channel show frequently set in Canada or Alaska : ICE ROAD TRUCKERS
“Ice Road Truckers” is a reality show on the History channel that has been airing since 2007. The show follows the perilous journeys of truckers who drive over frozen lakes and rivers in remote areas of Canada and Alaska during the winter.

38. Wrinkle-resistant fabric : DACRON
Dacron is a brand name for the polyester fabric polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The same material is branded as Terylene on the other side of the Atlantic.

39. “Tosh.0” segment, briefly : VID
Daniel Tosh is a stand-up comedian and host of “Tosh.0”, a video clip show on Comedy Central.

41. Little Bighorn victors : SIOUX
The Battle of Little Bighorn was a famous engagement between the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho Native American peoples against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the US Army led by General George Custer. Custer was soundly defeated and he and all of his men were killed in the engagement. I had the privilege of visiting the battle site a few years ago, and it was a very memorable experience.

44. “… ’twas ___ a dream of thee”: Donne : BUT
The cited words are from the poem “The Good-Morrow” by John Donne.

John Donne is one of England’s most celebrated poets, working at the start of the 17th century. He spent much of his life in poverty and even spent a short time in prison for having married his wife without procuring the appropriate permissions. After his release, his wife bore him 12 children in 16 years, passing away a few days after the twelfth child was born.

54. Like cooties vis-à-vis almost anything else : ICKIER
Cooties is WWI British slang for body lice. Ugh …

55. Italian time unit : ORA
“Ora” is Italian for “hour”.

58. Bol. neighbor : ARG
Argentina is the second largest country in South America (after Brazil), and geographically is the world’s largest Spanish-speaking nation. The name “Argentina” comes from the Latin “argentum”, the word for “silver”. It is thought that the name was given by the early Spanish and Portuguese conquerors who also named the Rio de la Plata (the “Silver River”). Those early explorers got hold of lots of silver objects that they found among the native population.

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and Argentina. The land now occupied by Bolivia was originally part of the Inca Empire. The country declared independence from Spain in 1809, which led to 16 years of war. When the Republic was finally named, “Bolivia” was chosen in honor of the Venezuelan-born revolutionary leader, Simón Bolívar.

59. Albert with four Best Actor nominations : FINNEY
Albert Finney is a marvelous English actor whose long career has included starring roles in movies such as “Annie” (1982) and “Erin Brockovich” (2000). My favorite is less well known, namely “Two for the Road” (1967) in which has stars opposite the lovely Audrey Hepburn.

60. New wave band with the hit “Whip It” : DEVO
Devo is a band from Akron, Ohio formed back in 1973. The band’s biggest hit is “Whip It” released in 1980.

63. Part of AARP: Abbr. : RET
AARP is now the official name for the interest group that used to be called the American Association of Retired Persons. The name change reflects the current focus of the group on all Americans aged 50 or over, as opposed to just people who have retired.

Down
2. Frontiersman who lent his name to six U.S. counties : BOONE
Daniel Boone was a pioneer and folk hero. For frontiersman Boone, the frontier was what we now call the state of Kentucky. He led the building of the Wilderness Road through the famous Cumberland Gap in the Appalachians, a route subsequently taken by hundreds of thousands of migrants into Kentucky. Boone fought in the Revolutionary War with distinction, and after the war returned to Kentucky and got himself into land speculation. He became mired in debt, forcing him to emigrate to Missouri to settle down on land that was at that time owned by the French. It was there that he spent the last decades of his life.

3. Bride, in Bologna : SPOSA
Bologna is a city in northern Italy. The city is home to the University of Bologna that was founded way back in 1088. The University of Bologna is the oldest existing university in the world.

5. Eel at a sushi bar : UNAGI
Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel, and unadon is the Japanese word for “eel bowl”. Unadon is actually a contraction of “unagi no kabayaki” (grilled eel) and “donburi” (rice bowl dish).

6. Forename meaning “born again” : RENEE
“René” and “Renée” are French for the adjective “reborn”, when applied to masculine and feminine nouns respectively.

7. Wayne ___ (abode above the Batcave) : MANOR
Wayne Manor is where Bruce Wayne lives, the alter-ego of Batman. It is a huge manor that lies just outside Gotham City. Looking after the house is the Wayne family servant, Alfred. Beneath the grounds of the manor is an extensive cave system where Bruce Wayne put together his Batcave. Access is to the cave is via a staircase behind a hidden door. The door is opened by moving the hands of a non-functioning grandfather clock to 10:47, the time at which Wayne’s parents were murdered. It is the murder of his parents that sets Bruce off on his journey of crime fighting.

9. Big egg producers : OSTRICHES
The ostrich is a flightless bird that is native to Africa. The ostrich is extensively farmed, mainly for its feathers but also for its skin/leather and meat.

10. TV/movie lead character whose middle name is Tiberius : JAMES KIRK
According to the storyline in “Star Trek”, Captain James Tiberius Kirk was born in Riverside, Iowa. The town of Riverside displays a plaque, noting Riverside as the “future birthplace of James T. Kirk.”

14. Swiss sub? : AMERICAN
One might substitute American cheese for Swiss cheese on a sandwich, say.

17. Calculations made while high, for short? : ETAS
Expected time of arrival (ETA)

21. Horse that’s “My Friend” in literature and 1950s TV : FLICKA
“My Friend Flicka” is a 1943 screen adaptation of the children’s novel of the same name by Mary O’Hara, and stars a young Roddy McDowall in the lead role. Flicka’s a horse, in case you didn’t know …

26. Reactor-overseeing org. : NRC
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was set up right after WWII in 1946, with the aim of promoting the peaceful use of atomic energy. Establishing the AEC was a significant move made by President Truman, as it passed control of atomic energy from the military to the civilian sector. The AEC continued to operate until 1974 when its functions were divided up into two new agencies: the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

29. Brazilian fruit export : ACAI BERRY
Açaí is a palm tree native to Central and South America. The fruit has become very popular in recent years and its juice is a very fashionable addition to juice mixes and smoothies.

30. Paper cutouts as a decorative art : DECOUPAGE
Découpage involves the use of colored paper cutouts that are glued onto an object as decoration The term “découpage” comes from the Middle French word “decouper” meaning “to cut out”.

31. Sexologist with a hit 1980s radio show : DR RUTH
Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a German sex therapist who made a name for herself as a media personality. Westheimer is the daughter of Orthodox Jews and was sent away from Germany by her family just before WWII. She ended up in Palestine and participated in the 1948 Palestine War serving as a scout and sniper. Westheimer was seriously wounded, and spent several months unable to walk. She moved to France in 1950, and soon after arrived in the US. It was in the US where she did her training as a sex therapist.

33. Network that aired “Jersey Shore” : MTV
“Jersey Shore” is yet another reality TV series, one that ran on MTV from 2009 until 2012. The first season featured a group of eight friends sharing a house on the Jersey shore, and the second season had the same cadre warming themselves in a house down in Miami.

43. Name that follows J. S. or P. D. Q. : BACH
It is generally agreed that Johann Sebastian Bach was the greatest composer of the Baroque period, and is ranked by many as the greatest classical composer of all time. Like so many of the great composers, the extent of Bach’s contribution to the repertoire wasn’t fully recognized until long after his passing. He died when he was 65-years-old, in 1750. Bach’s body was buried in Old St. John’s Cemetery in Leipzig, and his grave went unmarked until 1894. At that time his coffin was located, removed and buried in a vault within the church. The church was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid during WWII, and so after the war the remains had to be recovered and taken to the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig.

P.D.Q. Bach is an alter ego used by musical satirist Peter Schickele. Schickele creates works that he bills as compositions written by P.D.Q. Bach, the “only forgotten son” of Johann Sebastien Bach.

45. French composer Erik : SATIE
Erik Satie was a French composer most famous for his beautiful composition, the three “Gymnopédies”. I have tried so hard to appreciate other works by Satie but I find them so very different from the minimalist simplicity of the lyrical “Gymnopédies”.

47. Opposing votes in the Bundestag : NEINS
“Nein” is German for “no”.

The German parliament is known as the “Bundestag”, and has been since its founding in 1949. The Bundestag meets in the magnificent Reichstag building in Berlin.

49. Rome’s river : TIBER
The Tiber is the principal river in Italy in that it runs through the capital of Rome. It is also the third longest river in the country.

51. Crop hazard : ERGOT
Ergot is a fungus, or actually a group of fungi, that cause disease in rye and related plants. If human eat ergot-contaminated grain, a condition called ergotism can result. Ergotism is the result of consumption of alkaloids produced by the fungi, alkaloids that can cause seizures and manic behavior. It has even been suggested that the hysteria exhibited by the Salem “witches” was perhaps caused by the ingestion of ergot-contaminated rye.

53. Schism : RIFT
A schism is a split or a division, especially in a religion.

57. Org. that opposes school vouchers : NEA
The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the country, and mainly represents public school teachers.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Muscles that may be sculpted, informally : ABS
4. Japanese W.W. II conquest : BURMA
9. Eye of the tigre? : OJO
12. Noggin knocks : BOPS
14. “Dido and ___” (Purcell opera) : AENEAS
15. ___ Paulo, Brazil : SAO
16. *”Hawaii Five-O” catchphrase : BOOK ‘EM, DANNO
18. Popular gossip website : TMZ
19. Kind of inspection : ON-SITE
20. Rush experienced during a movie? : GEOFFREY
22. *Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck, e.g. : TEA PARTIER
24. Fleur-de-___ : LIS
25. Title for Winston Churchill : SIR
26. Shaving mishaps : NICKS
28. Cheryl of “Charlie’s Angels” : LADD
32. Rom-___ : COM
34. Classic comics character since 1941 : ARCHIE
35. *History channel show frequently set in Canada or Alaska : ICE ROAD TRUCKERS
38. Wrinkle-resistant fabric : DACRON
39. “Tosh.0” segment, briefly : VID
40. Inquires : ASKS
41. Little Bighorn victors : SIOUX
42. Apt rhyme of “grab” : NAB
44. “… ’twas ___ a dream of thee”: Donne : BUT
45. *Structure built from the ground up? : SANDCASTLE
52. Put another way : REPHRASE
54. Like cooties vis-à-vis almost anything else : ICKIER
55. Italian time unit : ORA
56. “We have this won” … or what could be said about each of the first words of the answers to the starred clues : IT’S IN THE BAG
58. Bol. neighbor : ARG
59. Albert with four Best Actor nominations : FINNEY
60. New wave band with the hit “Whip It” : DEVO
61. Toast choice : RYE
62. Nickname for Theresa : TESSA
63. Part of AARP: Abbr. : RET

Down
1. Prior’s superior : ABBOT
2. Frontiersman who lent his name to six U.S. counties : BOONE
3. Bride, in Bologna : SPOSA
4. Sleep on it : BED
5. Eel at a sushi bar : UNAGI
6. Forename meaning “born again” : RENEE
7. Wayne ___ (abode above the Batcave) : MANOR
8. Since : AS OF
9. Big egg producers : OSTRICHES
10. TV/movie lead character whose middle name is Tiberius : JAMES KIRK
11. Like tar pits : OOZY
13. Bypass : SKIP
14. Swiss sub? : AMERICAN
17. Calculations made while high, for short? : ETAS
21. Horse that’s “My Friend” in literature and 1950s TV : FLICKA
23. Took steps : TROD
26. Reactor-overseeing org. : NRC
27. Cong. meeting : SESS
28. Tops : LIDS
29. Brazilian fruit export : ACAI BERRY
30. Paper cutouts as a decorative art : DECOUPAGE
31. Sexologist with a hit 1980s radio show : DR RUTH
33. Network that aired “Jersey Shore” : MTV
34. Gall : AUDACITY
36. Losing tic-tac-toe row : O-O-X
37. Thick skin : RIND
43. Name that follows J. S. or P. D. Q. : BACH
45. French composer Erik : SATIE
46. Grps. : ASSNS
47. Opposing votes in the Bundestag : NEINS
48. TV listings, informally : SKED
49. Rome’s river : TIBER
50. Get out of Dodge : LEAVE
51. Crop hazard : ERGOT
52. Surf sound : ROAR
53. Schism : RIFT
57. Org. that opposes school vouchers : NEA

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