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CROSSWORD SETTER: Joe Krozel
THEME: There is a note accompanying each of this week’s crosswords:
We asked some favorite Times crossword contributors, “What would you like to do in a daily Times crossword that has never been done before?” This week’s puzzles, Monday to Saturday, are the result.
We have an additional note with today’s puzzle:
Note: When completed, the outer squares in this puzzle will contain each of the 26 letters of the alphabet exactly once.
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 22m 23s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
8. Do some financial planning for old age : ROLL OVER AN IRA
A rollover IRA is a subtype of a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The funds for a rollover IRA come from another qualified plan such as a 401(k) or a 403(b) account.
15. 2000 Britney Spears hit : OOPS!… I DID IT AGAIN
Britney Spears was the best-selling female artist in the first decade of the 21st century. And I didn’t buy even one song, and I couldn’t name one right now …
… well, “Oops!… I Did It Again” is mentioned in the clue!
18. One of the Everly Brothers : PHIL
The Everly Brothers are noted for their steel guitar sound, and their great use of harmony. Their harmony onstage wasn’t reflected off the stage though. In 1973 the brothers decided to pursue separate careers and scheduled a farewell performance attended by many fans, family and stalwarts from the music industry. Don Everly came on stage too drunk to perform, and eventually brother Phil just stormed off into the wings, smashing his guitar as he left. The boys didn’t talk to each other for ten years after that incident. Phil Everly passed away in January 2014.
19. Means of enlightenment : ZEN
Zen is a Buddhist school that developed its own tradition in China back in the 7th century AD. Zen is a Japanese spelling of the Chinese word “chan”, which in turn derives from the Sanskrit word “dhyana” meaning “meditation”.
20. Some Mexican beers : TECATES
Tecate is a Mexican beer that takes its name from the city of Tecate in Baja California.
23. Big roll? : SIX
The numbers on dice are arranged so that the opposite faces add up to seven. Given this arrangement, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 all meet at a common vertex. There are two ways of arranging the 1, 2 and 3 around the common vertex, a so called right-handed die (clockwise 1-2-3) or a left-handed die (counterclockwise 1-2-3). Traditionally, dice used in Western cultures are right-handed, whereas Chinese dice are left-handed. Quite interesting …
24. Vaccine letters : DPT
The DPT vaccine is combination vaccine providing protection against diphtheria (D), pertussis (P, also known as whooping cough) and tetanus (T).
26. 2000s teen idol, to fans : MILEY
Miley Cyrus became famous playing the Disney Channel character “Hannah Montana”. Miley is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. When she was born, Billy Ray and his wife named their daughter “Destiny Hope”, but soon they themselves calling her “Smiley” as she was always smiling as a baby, and this got shortened to Miley over time. Cute …
27. Justin who directed four of the “Fast and the Furious” films : LIN
Justin Lin is an American movie director who was born in Taiwan. Lin directed three of the six films in “The Fast and the Furious” series. Apparently he is directing a new film in the “Jason Bourne” series called “The Bourne Betrayal”. I’m not really a fan of “The Fast and the Furious” films, but would like to see another “Jason Bourne” movie …
28. Like museum exhibits : CURATED
The term “curator” is Latin and applies to a manager, guardian or overseer. In English, the original curators were the guardians and overseers of minors and those with mental disease.
32. Ohio or Illinois, but not Indiana : RIVER
The Ohio river marks the boundaries of five states:
– Ohio and West Virginia
– Ohio and Kentucky
– Indiana and Kentucky
– Illinois and Kentucky
The Illinois River is a tributary of the Mississippi that flows entirely within the state of Illinois.
34. Some June arrivals : GEMINIS
“Gemini” is the Latin word for “twins”.
36. Italian-American composer who won a Pulitzer Prize for “The Saint of Bleecker Street” : MENOTTI
“The Saint of Bleecker Street” is a very American opera, with libretto and music by the Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti. The first performance was on Broadway in 1954, and indeed the opera is set in New York City’s Little Italy.
The composer Gian Carlo Menotti won a Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for his opera “The Consul”. Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” has a special place in the repertoire, in that it is the first opera specifically composed for American television. “Amahl and the Night Visitors” was commissioned by NBC and had its debut at the NBC studios in Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve, 1951. In today’s world of commercially-driven television, I can’t imagine a network commissioning a classical work …
40. Moo ___ pork : SHU
Moo shu pork is a traditional dish from northern China, with the main ingredients being shredded pork and scrambled egg.
44. School extension? : EDU
The .edu domain was one of the six original generic top-level domains specified. The complete original list is:
– .com (commercial enterprise)
– .net (entity involved in network infrastructure e.g. an ISP)
– .mil (US military)
– .org (not-for-profit organization)
– .gov (US federal government entity)
– .edu (college-level educational institution)
45. Long-leaved palm : NIPA
The nipa palm is a little unusual in that the trunk of the plant grows underground, with only the leaves and flowers stalks above the surface.
47. Introduction for Pedro or Diego? : SAN
“San Pedro” is Spanish for “Saint Peter”, and “San Diego” can be translated from Spanish as “Saint James” or “Saint Jacob”.
48. One of the officemates on “The Office” : GABE
Gabe Lewis is a character on the US version of the sitcom “The Office”. Played by actor Zach Woods, Gabe first appeared in season six and stuck around until the show’s finale.
50. Anne and Victoria : QUEENS OF ENGLAND
Queen Anne was the last of the Stuarts to rule in the British Isles, and the first sovereign of the Kingdom of Great Britain (after England and Scotland united).
Queen Victoria ruled over the UK from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign saw the expansion of the British Empire, especially with the incorporation of British possessions on the Indian subcontinent. Indeed, for the last quarter century of her reign, Victoria also used the title Empress of India.
Down
3. Dad ___ (not exactly a male ideal) : BOD
A “dad bod” is a man’s body that is softly rounded. Well, that’s the description I like to use …
11. Sticky : VISCID
The word “viscid” means “thick and adhesive”. Both “viscid” and “viscous” come from “viscum”, the Latin word for “mistletoe”. The idea is that mistletoe berries were used to make a sticky paste that was smeared on branches to entrap birds.
12. John of old sitcoms : RITTER
The actor John Ritter had acting in his blood, as he was the son of Tex Ritter, the country music singer and movie actor. John Ritter’s big break was playing Jack Tripper on the hit sitcom “Three’s Company”.
21. Many a retired academic : EMERITA
Emeritus (female form “emerita”, plural “emeriti”) is a term in the title of some retired professionals, particularly those from academia. Originally an emeritus was a veteran soldier who had served his time. The term comes from the Latin verb “emerere” meaning to complete one’s service.
22. Series of letters to read? : EYE TEST
The commonly used eye chart (that starts with the letters “E FP TOZ LPED”) is called a Snellen chart. The test is named after its developer Herman Snellen, who introduced it way back in 1862.
25. First name on PBS : TAVIS
Tavis Smiley is the host of his own talk show “Tavis Smiley” on PBS and “The Tavis Smiley Show” on PRI.
27. “Jay ___ Garage” (Emmy-winning auto series) : LENO’S
Jay Leno was born James Leno in New Rochelle, New York. Jay’s father was the son of Italian immigrants, and his mother was from Scotland. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and actually dropped out of school on the advice of a high school guidance counsellor. However, years later he went to Emerson college and earned a Bachelor’s degree in speech therapy. Leno also started a comedy club at Emerson in 1973. Today Jay Leno is a car nut and owns about 200 vehicles of various types. You can check them out on his website: www.jaylenosgarage.com.
29. Hamilton’s place : TEN
The US ten-dollar bill features the image of Alexander Hamilton, the first US Secretary of the Treasury, on the obverse. As such, ten-dollar bills are sometimes called “Hamiltons”. By the way, the $10 bill is the only US currency in circulation in which the portrait faces to the left. The reverse of the ten-dollar bill features the US Treasury Building.
42. Frontiersman Boone, informally : DAN’L
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.
43. Quiche needs : EGGS
The classic dish called quiche is made with eggs (“oeufs” in French). Even though the quiche is inextricably linked to French cuisine, the name “quiche” comes from the German word for cake, “Kuchen”. The variant called “quiche lorraine” includes bits of smoked bacon as an ingredient.
51. “Cheers” role : SAM
On the sitcom “Cheers”, barman Sam Malone was played by Ted Danson. Malone was a retired relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, and a recovering alcoholic. Great show …
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
8. Do some financial planning for old age : ROLL OVER AN IRA
15. 2000 Britney Spears hit : OOPS!… I DID IT AGAIN
16. Board hirees : CEOS
17. Take a load off : SIT
18. One of the Everly Brothers : PHIL
19. Means of enlightenment : ZEN
20. Some Mexican beers : TECATES
23. Big roll? : SIX
24. Vaccine letters : DPT
26. 2000s teen idol, to fans : MILEY
27. Justin who directed four of the “Fast and the Furious” films : LIN
28. Like museum exhibits : CURATED
30. Payback : REVENGE
32. Ohio or Illinois, but not Indiana : RIVER
33. Sharp tastes : TANGS
34. Some June arrivals : GEMINIS
36. Italian-American composer who won a Pulitzer Prize for “The Saint of Bleecker Street” : MENOTTI
37. Postgrad degrees : MAS
38. Cantina order : TACOS
40. Moo ___ pork : SHU
41. Shake : JAR
42. Certain hotel fee : DAY RATE
44. School extension? : EDU
45. Long-leaved palm : NIPA
47. Introduction for Pedro or Diego? : SAN
48. One of the officemates on “The Office” : GABE
50. Anne and Victoria : QUEENS OF ENGLAND
53. If absolutely necessary : AS A LAST RESORT
Down
1. How-to guide at an office : PROCEDURE MANUAL
2. Adding to that : ALSO
3. Dad ___ (not exactly a male ideal) : BOD
4. Phone button : REDIAL
5. Factory container : VAT
6. What you might microwave something on : HIGH
7. One measure of a school’s success : FAILING STUDENTS
9. Events with crossover voters : OPEN PRIMARIES
10. Not be upright : LIST
11. Sticky : VISCID
12. John of old sitcoms : RITTER
13. Preschool breaks : NAPS
14. Setting increased standards : RAISING THE BAR
21. Many a retired academic : EMERITA
22. Series of letters to read? : EYE TEST
25. First name on PBS : TAVIS
27. “Jay ___ Garage” (Emmy-winning auto series) : LENO’S
29. Hamilton’s place : TEN
31. Purchase for many a church or motel : VAN
35. Final approvals : SAY-SOS
36. Clearly unhappy person : MOANER
39. Working with subterfuge : CRAFTY
42. Frontiersman Boone, informally : DAN’L
43. Quiche needs : EGGS
46. Where people are drawn to scale? : PEAK
49. Abundantly : A LOT
51. “Cheers” role : SAM
52. Not previously seen : NEW