0216-16 New York Times Crossword Answers 16 Feb 16, Tuesday

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Record label for Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” : DECCA
Decca Records started out in 1929 as a British record label. The US branch of Decca was opened up in 1934, but the UK and US entities went their separate ways starting in WWII. Famously, Decca turned down a chance to record the Beatles in 1962 taking the position “Guitar groups are on the way out”. That said, Decca did sign the Rolling Stones.

“White Christmas” is song composed by Irving Berlin. The famous 1942 recording of “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling single of all time.

6. Greek R’s : RHOS
Rho is the Greek letter that looks just like our Roman letter “p”. Rho is the symbol used for density, i.e. mass/volume.

10. Mets’ home before Citi Field : SHEA
Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York was named after William A. Shea, the man credited with bringing National League baseball back to the city in the form of the New York Mets. Shea Stadium was dismantled in 2008-2009, and the site now provides additional parking for the new stadium nearby called Citi Field.

16. Brick carriers : HODS
A hod is a 3-sided box on the the end of a long handle used for carrying bricks (and sometimes mortar) at a construction site, usually up and down ladders.

17. Banned wrestling hold : FULL NELSON (giving “full figure”)
The full nelson and half nelson are wrestling holds in which one wrestler secures an opponent by encircling the opponent’s arm(s) under the armpit(s) and around the neck. Some say the holds are named after Admiral Nelson, who was renowned for using encircling tactics in battle.

19. Dr. ___, Austin Powers’s foe : EVIL
Dr. Evil is a character played by Mike Myers in the “Austin Powers” series of movies. The character lampoons various James Bond villains, just as Austin Powers lampoons James Bond himself.

20. Andrea ___, ship that sank in 1956 : DORIA
The SS Andrea Doria was an Italian ocean liner with the home port of Genoa. She was named after Andrea Doria, a 16th-century admiral from the city. As always seems to be the case with ships that go down, the Andrea Doria was the pride of the fleet and was deemed to be the biggest, fastest and safest of Italy’s ships in the fifties. Her end came in 1956 when she collided with the MS Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket Island. Such was the damage to the side of the vessel that she quickly and severely listed to starboard, rendering half her lifeboats unusable. Nonetheless, 1,660 crew and passengers were rescued by vessels that came to her aid. Only 46 lives were lost, mainly in the collision itself. The Andrea Doria capsized and sank eleven hours after the collision.

22. Together, musically : A DUE
“A due” is a musical term meaning “together”, and translates literally from Italian as “by two”.

28. The Sunflower State : KANSAS
The official nickname of Kansas is the Sunflower State. One of Kansas’s major crops is the sunflower. The sunflower is the state symbol, and Mount Sunflower is the highest point in Kansas.

30. Actress Thompson of “Family” : SADA
Sada Thompson was an actress from Des Moines, Iowa. Thompson is best known for playing the mother and wife in the eighties television drama series called “Family”.

32. Pop singer from 27-Down : DON HO
The singer and entertainer Don Ho apparently had a pretty liberal arrangement with his wife. When Ho was touring with his two backing singers, Patti Swallie and Elizabeth Guevara, all three of them shared a room together. He had two children with each of his roommates, giving a total of ten kids including the six he had with his wife. The arrangement was quite open, it seems, with all ten kids visiting each other regularly. To each his own …

34. Inits. on an airport uniform : TSA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in 2001, soon after the 9/11 attacks. TSA personnel carry out the baggage and body searches at US airports. The TSA has a Trusted Traveler program that allows certain passengers to move more quickly through security screening. These passengers pay the TSA a one-time fee that covers a background check after which successful applicants are issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN).

41. Seize (from) : WREST
The verb “to wrest” can mean to obtain by violent twisting and pulling. The word “wrest” derives from the Middle English “wresten” meaning “to twist”. Our word “wrestling” has the same etymology.

44. Actress Anderson of “Baywatch” : PAMELA
Pamela Anderson is a Canadian/American actress and model, whose most famous TV roles were on the shows “Home Improvement” and “Baywatch”. Anderson is a hot topic in the gossip columns, especially after a honeymoon sex tape was stolen from her home. Beyond all the hype, she is a very committed animal rights activist, having become a vegetarian in her teens after seeing her father cleaning an animal that he had killed while hunting.

45. Risk everything : GO FOR BROKE (giving “go figure!”)
“Baywatch” is TV series starring David Hasselhoff that is about lifeguards patrolling the beaches of Los Angeles County. Over the life of the show, the lifeguards not only had to rescue swimmers, they also had to deal with earthquakes, shark attacks, serial killers and even nuclear bombs. The trademark “look” on the show was provided by slow-motion shots of the lifeguards running to someone’s rescue in those red bathing costumes.

52. Realty listing data : BATHS
The terms “realty” and “real estate” date back to the later 1600s, and are derived from the earlier meaning “real possession”, something one owns that is tangible and real.

54. The “B” in Roy G. Biv : BLUE
“Roy G. Biv” is a mnemonic for the colors in a rainbow:

– Red
– Orange
– Yellow
– Green
– Blue
– Indigo
– Violet

60. Something you can see through : LENS
Our word “lens” is Latin in origin, meaning “lentil”. The idea is that a lentil has a double-convex shape, as do many lenses.

61. “Dark Sky Island” singer, 2015 : ENYA
Enya’s real name is Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, which can translate from Irish into Enya Brennan. Her Donegal family (in the northwest of Ireland) formed a band called Clannad, which included Enya. In 1980 Enya launched her very successful solo career, eventually becoming Ireland’s best-selling solo musician. And, she sure does turn up a lot in crosswords!

62. “May the ___ be with you” : FORCE
The Force is a metaphysical power much cited in all of the “Star Wars” movies, and still today we may hear someone in real life say “May the Force be with you”.

63. Coup d’___ : ETAT
A coup d’état (often just “coup”) is the sudden overthrow of a government, and comes from the French for “stroke of state”. The Swiss German word “putsch” is sometimes used instead of “coup”, with “Putsch” translating literally as “sudden blow”.

64. Indian royal : RANI
“Raja” (also “rajah”) is word derived from Sanskrit that is used particularly in India for a monarch or princely ruler. The female form is “rani” (also “ranee”) and is used for a raja’s wife.

65. Many a middle-schooler : TWEEN
The term “tween” is now used to describe preadolescence, the years between 8 and 12 years of age.

Down
1. “What’s the ___?” : DIF
What’s the “dif”, what’s the difference?

2. Bird that can run up to 30 m.p.h. : EMU
Emu eggs are very large, with a thick shell that is dark-green in color. One emu egg weighs about the same as a dozen chicken eggs.

3. One of 15 in a typical weekday crossword: Abbr. : COL
Column (col.)

4. Dead-end street : CUL-DE-SAC
Even though “cul-de-sac” can indeed mean “bottom of the bag” in French, the term cul-de-sac is of English origin (the use of “cul” in French is actually quite rude). The term was introduced in aristocratic circles at a time when it was considered very fashionable to speak French. Dead-end streets in France are usually signposted with just a symbol and no accompanying words, but if words are included they are “voie sans issue”, meaning “way without exit”.

5. 1 for hydrogen or 2 for helium: Abbr. : AT NO
The atomic number of an element is also called the proton number, and is the number of protons found in the nucleus of each atom of the element.

6. Linotype machine, nowadays : RELIC
A “relic” is a something that has survived from the past, reminding us of that past.

Linotype printing was the main technology used in the publication of newspapers and magazines for most of the 20th century, up until the 1970s when it was gradually replaced by offset printing and computer typesetting. Linotype printing was so called as a complete “line of type” was produced at one time.

9. Rand Paul or Marco Rubio: Abbr. : SEN
Rand Paul is a US Senator representing the state of Kentucky, elected to office in 2010, a prominent member of the Tea Party movement. Senator Rand Paul is the son of US Representative Rand Paul from Texas, and young Rand Paul was the the first US Senator to serve alongside a parent in the House of Representatives.

10. Everest guide : SHERPA
In the Tibetan language, Sherpa means “eastern people” (sher = east, pa = people). Sherpas are an ethnic group from Nepal, but the name is also used for the local guides who assist mountaineers in the Himalayas, and particularly on Mount Everest.

Mount Everest was first summited in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Hillary and Norgay were part of an expedition from which two pairs of climbers were selected to make a summit attempt. The first pair were Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, and they came within 330 feet of their goal but had to turn back. The expedition sent up the second pair two days later, and history was made on 29 May 1953.

12. Minneapolis suburb : EDINA
Edina, Minnesota lies just southwest of Minneapolis. The town takes its name from Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It was suggested by a Scottish mill owner at the time a new village was being set up in 1888.

13. Symbol of Jesus Christ in the “Narnia” series : ASLAN
In the C. S. Lewis series of books “The Chronicles of Narnia”, Aslan is the name of the lion character (as in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”). “Aslan” is actually the Turkish word for lion. Anyone who has read the books will recognize the the remarkable similarity between the story of Aslan and the story of Christ, including a sacrifice and resurrection.

21. Only country in which Catalan is the official language : ANDORRA
Andorra is a small principality nestled in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Andorra is a very prosperous country, mainly due to its status as a tax haven and thriving tourist industry. We used help out the tourist industry there in the winters, enjoying a couple of skiing holidays there. Happy memories …

22. Half of S.W.A.K. : … A KISS
SWAK is an initialism standing for “sealed with a kiss”. SWAK, and the related SWALK (sealed with a loving kiss), are postal acronyms that originated during WWII.

23. Who wrote “Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass on” : DANTE
“Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass on.” is a line from Dante’s “Divine Comedy”.

27. Honolulu’s island : OAHU
O’ahu has been called “The Gathering Place”, although the word “O’ahu” has no translation in Hawaiian. It seems that O’ahu is simply the name of the island. One story is that it is named after the son of the Polynesian navigator who first found the islands. The island is made up of two volcanoes, Wai’anae and Ko’olau, joined together by a broad valley, the O’ahu Plain.

32. Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Bobby : DOERR
Bobby Doerr is a former baseball player and coach for the Boston Red Sox. Doerr attended the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park in 2012. He was 94 years of age at the time, and was the oldest person in attendance that day at the park.

35. Part of a fishing line to which a hook is attached : SNELL
A snell is a length of thin line that connects a fishhook to heavier line.

38. Oakland paper, for short : TRIB
The “Oakland Tribune” has been published since 1874, although back then it was called the “Oakland Daily Tribune”.

43. Setting for “Little Red Riding Hood” : FOREST
“Little Red Riding Hood” is a fairy tale that originated in Europe and was first published in France by Charles Perrault in 1697. The title translates into French as “Le Petit Chaperon Rouge”.

44. Czech form of the French “Pierre” : PETR
The English name “Peter” is equivalent to “Pierre” in French, and “Petr” in Czech.

45. One of seven in a Hawthorne title : GABLE
I had the pleasure of visiting the charming House of Seven Gables a few years ago in Salem, Massachusetts. The core of the house was built in 1668, for one Captain John Turner, and overlooks Salem Harbor. After a couple of generations, the house had to be sold by the Turners and it was purchased by the Ingersoll family. The author Nathaniel Hawthorne was a relative of the Ingersolls and often visited the house growing up. It was this house that gave Hawthorn the title for his famous Gothic novel “The House of the Seven Gables”.

47. Animals, collectively : FAUNA
The fauna is the animal life of a particular region, and the flora is that region’s plant life. The term “fauna” comes from the Roman goddess of earth and fertility who was called Fauna. Flora was the Roman goddess of plants, flowers and fertility.

48. Delivery person? : OB/GYN
Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)

49. Island neighbor of 27-Down : KAUAI
(27D. Honolulu’s island : OAHU)
Because the Hawaiian island of Kauai is one of the wettest places on earth, all the rainfall has helped to carve out magnificent canyons and left superb waterfalls. The island is often used as a backdrop for movies. The facilities at the island’s Lihue Airport reflect the pleasant climate enjoyed by the Hawaiian Islands. Check-in takes place completely outdoors!

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Record label for Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” : DECCA
6. Greek R’s : RHOS
10. Mets’ home before Citi Field : SHEA
14. “Too rich for my blood” : I’M OUT
15. Ice dam site : EAVE
16. Brick carriers : HODS
17. Banned wrestling hold : FULL NELSON (giving “full figure”)
19. Dr. ___, Austin Powers’s foe : EVIL
20. Andrea ___, ship that sank in 1956 : DORIA
21. Big concert venue : ARENA
22. Together, musically : A DUE
25. Aid in accomplishing a goal : ACTION PLAN (giving “action figure”)
28. The Sunflower State : KANSAS
30. Actress Thompson of “Family” : SADA
31. Guest you might not want to stay for too long : IN-LAW
32. Pop singer from 27-Down : DON HO
34. Inits. on an airport uniform : TSA
37. “Don’t give up the fight!” : STICK TO YOUR GUNS! (giving “stick figure”)
40. Workplace often surrounded by trailers : SET
41. Seize (from) : WREST
42. Gives stars to, say : RATES
43. ___ to middling : FAIR
44. Actress Anderson of “Baywatch” : PAMELA
45. Risk everything : GO FOR BROKE (giving “go figure!”)
50. Slippery : EELY
51. Gold star or silver medal : AWARD
52. Realty listing data : BATHS
54. The “B” in Roy G. Biv : BLUE
55. Carved decoration on a ship’s prow … or a hint to the first word of 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across : FIGUREHEAD
60. Something you can see through : LENS
61. “Dark Sky Island” singer, 2015 : ENYA
62. “May the ___ be with you” : FORCE
63. Coup d’___ : ETAT
64. Indian royal : RANI
65. Many a middle-schooler : TWEEN

Down
1. “What’s the ___?” : DIF
2. Bird that can run up to 30 m.p.h. : EMU
3. One of 15 in a typical weekday crossword: Abbr. : COL
4. Dead-end street : CUL-DE-SAC
5. 1 for hydrogen or 2 for helium: Abbr. : AT NO
6. Linotype machine, nowadays : RELIC
7. Starts, as a big job : HAS AT
8. Egg: Prefix : OVO-
9. Rand Paul or Marco Rubio: Abbr. : SEN
10. Everest guide : SHERPA
11. Homely home : HOVEL
12. Minneapolis suburb : EDINA
13. Symbol of Jesus Christ in the “Narnia” series : ASLAN
18. Historical periods : ERAS
21. Only country in which Catalan is the official language : ANDORRA
22. Half of S.W.A.K. : … A KISS
23. Who wrote “Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass on” : DANTE
24. Dark : UNLIT
26. “All ___ lost” : IS NOT
27. Honolulu’s island : OAHU
29. All thumbs : AWKWARD
32. Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Bobby : DOERR
33. Yiddish cries : OYS
34. Private pupil : TUTEE
35. Part of a fishing line to which a hook is attached : SNELL
36. Analyze, as ore : ASSAY
38. Oakland paper, for short : TRIB
39. Where you might hear “Ding ding ding!” : GAME SHOW
43. Setting for “Little Red Riding Hood” : FOREST
44. Czech form of the French “Pierre” : PETR
45. One of seven in a Hawthorne title : GABLE
46. Small hooter : OWLET
47. Animals, collectively : FAUNA
48. Delivery person? : OB/GYN
49. Island neighbor of 27-Down : KAUAI
53. Test by lifting : HEFT
55. “Oh, ___ cryin’ out loud!” : FER
56. “___ perfect world …” : IN A
57. Before, poetically : ERE
58. Star pitcher : ACE
59. Cub Scout group : DEN

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