Day: June 24, 2016

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
7. Centerpiece of a holiday gathering : YULE LOG
A Yule log is a large log made from a very hard wood that is burned as part of the Christmas celebration. There is also a cake called a Yule log that is served at Christmas, especially in French-speaking parts of the world. The cake is made from sponge that is rolled up to resemble a wooden Yule log.

14. The “R” of E.R. : REGINA
“ER” is a royal cypher, a monogram-like device used by the current queen of the UK. The initialism ER stands for Elizabeth Regina, literally translating as “Elizabeth, queen”. A more useful translation might me “Elizabeth, reigning”, meaning that Elizabeth is the reigning monarch, as opposed to being a Queen Consort, the wife of a reigning king. Elizabeth’s father used the royal cypher “GR”, meaning George Rex, or “George, king”. One of the most common places to see the royal cypher is embossed on a post box in the UK. I’ve also seem some old “GR” post boxes, and even one emblazoned with “VR” (Victoria Regina).

16. Holiday cupful : EGGNOG
It’s not really clear where the term “nog” (as in “eggnog”) comes from although it might derive from the word “noggin”, which was originally a small wooden cup that was long associated with alcoholic drinks.

20. Worker with a saving plan, for short : EMT
Emergency medical technician (EMT)

23. Cricket field shape : OVAL
Cricket is the national game of England. The term “cricket” apparently comes from the Old French word “criquet” meaning “goalpost, stick”.

24. The American Messenger Co., today : UPS
United Parcel Service (UPS) is based in Sandy Springs, Georgia and has its own airline that operates out of Louisville, Kentucky. UPS was founded as the American Messenger Company in Seattle in 1907 by two teenagers. The UPS name was adopted in 1937.

25. Racketeering outfit : GANG
A “racket” is a fraudulent service, often one offered to solve a problem that does not exist, just to make money. A classic example is a “protection racket”, in which local businesses are offered protection from dangerous elements in a neighborhood. The use of the term “racket” to describe such activities was coined by the Employers’ Association of Chicago in 1927.

33. Harold Hill’s portrayer in the original cast of “The Music Man” : ROBERT PRESTON
The actor Robert Preston is best known for playing Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man”, both in the 1957 stage musical and in the 1962 film adaptation.

38. Green on a screen : EVA
Despite the English-sounding name, Eva Green is a French actress. Green played Bond girl Vesper Lynd in the 2006 movie “Casino Royale”, opposite Daniel Craig.

43. Party spread : BRIE
Brie is a soft cheese, named after the French region from which it originated. Brie is similar to the equally famous (and delicious) Camembert.

48. Bright yellow fruit : CASABA
A casaba is type of honeydew melon. The casaba takes its name from the Turkish city of Kasaba, from where the fruit was imported into America in the late 1800s.

49. Some Kings’ Scholars : ETONIANS
King’s College is one of the constituent colleges of Cambridge University in England. King’s was founded by Henry VI back in 1441, just after he founded the sister college in Eton. Today, Eton is a boys’ boarding school educating pupils from 13 to 18 years of age, whereas King’s is a university.

51. Like the papacy of Pius IX, after St. Peter : LONGEST
Pope Pius IX was longest-reigning elected pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, holding office for over 31 years from 1846 to 1878. The Catholic Church regards Saint Peter as the first to hold the papal office, as he was the first bishop of Rome. Peter took office in 30 CE, and probably died in 64 CE, making him the longest-reigning pope.

52. Another name for Michaelmas daisies : ASTERS
“Michaelmas” is the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, a day in the Western Christian calendar. Michaelmas is September 29th every year, and is associated with the beginning of fall.

Down
5. Genesis grandson : ENOS
Enos was the son of Seth, and therefore the grandson of Adam and Eve. According to the Book of Jubilees, Enos married his sister Noam.

8. Eurasian boundary : URAL
The eastern side of the Ural Mountains in Russia is generally regarded as the natural divide between the continents of Europe and Asia.

9. Dr. Kildare portrayer Ayres : LEW
The Hollywood actor Lew Ayres got his big break in “All Quiet On the Western Front”. Famously, he also played Dr. Kildare in several movies. Ayres’ private life wasn’t too dull. He was married three times, Lola Lane and Ginger Rogers being wives one and two. Ayres was also the man for whom actress Jane Wyman left her husband Ronald Reagan, although the Ayres-Wyman relationship didn’t last very long.

10. Longtime band with the 2015 album “Alone in the Universe” : ELO
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is a symphonic rock group from the north of England.

11. Los Angeles suburb next to San Fernando : LAKE VIEW TERRACE
Lake View Terrace is suburb of Los Angeles that lies north of downtown, in the northeast section of the San Fernando Valley. The area garnered some unwelcome attention in 1991 as it was the site of the beating of Rodney King by LA police officers that was captured on videotape.

23. “American Me” star, 1992 : OLMOS
Edward James Olmos is a Mexican American actor. I mostly remember Olmos as the Lieutenant who was the boss of Crockett and Tubbs on television’s “Miami Vice”.

“American Me” is a 1992 biographical film about the rise to power of Mexican Mafia leader Montoya Santana. Santana is played by actor Edward James Olmos, who also produced and directed the film.

26. Tristram Shandy’s creator : STERNE
Laurence Sterne is best known for his novel, “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman”. It is an epic work, published in nine volumes over ten years.

29. High-hat : SNOOT
“Snoot” is a variant of “snout” and is a word that originated in Scotland. The idea is that someone who is “snooty”, or snouty, tends to look down his or her nose at the rest of the world.

30. TV drama starring Terrence Howard : EMPIRE
“Empire” is a musical drama TV series about the hip hop music business. Star of the show is Terrence Howard, who plays drug-dealer turned hip hop mogul Lucious Lyon. Lyon is CEO of Empire Entertainment.

32. It begins with All Saints’ Day : NOVEMBER
All Saints’ Day is November 1st each year. The day before All Saints’ Day is All Hallows’ Eve, better known by the Scottish term, “Halloween”.

35. Brewery named for a Dutch river : AMSTEL
Amstel is a Dutch beer and brewery, founded in 1870 in Amsterdam. The brewery takes its name from the Amstel river which runs through the city.

44. Private engagements? : WARS
Those would be soldiers of the rank “private”.

46. First name of 2012’s Best Director : ANG
Taiwanese director Ang Lee sure has directed a mixed bag of films, mixed in terms of genre but not in terms of quality. He was at the helm for such classics as “Sense & Sensibility” (my personal favorite), “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Hulk”, “Brokeback Mountain” and “Life of Pi”.

48. 1040 preparer, for short : CPA
Certified public accountant (CPA)

Here in the US we can choose one of three main forms to file our tax returns. Form 1040 is known as the “long form”. Form 1040A is called the “short form”, and can be used by taxpayers with taxable income below $100,000 who don’t itemize deduction. Form 1040EZ is an even simpler version of the 1040, and can be used by those with taxable income less than $100,000 who take the standard deduction and who also have no dependents. Form 1040 was originally created just for tax returns from 1913, 1914 and 1915, but it’s a form that just keeps on giving, or should I say “taking” …?

Return to top of page

For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Fan group? : BLADES
7. Centerpiece of a holiday gathering : YULE LOG
14. The “R” of E.R. : REGINA
15. No-parking area in a parking lot : FIRE LANE
16. Holiday cupful : EGGNOG
17. Brought out of hibernation : REAWOKEN
18. Stock : WARES
19. Boxing ring producer : BELL
20. Worker with a saving plan, for short : EMT
21. Dog team’s burden : SLED
22. With 40-Across, exposed : LAID
23. Cricket field shape : OVAL
24. The American Messenger Co., today : UPS
25. Racketeering outfit : GANG
26. Drip chamber contents : SALINE
28. Idled : PASSED THE TIME
31. “I’m counting on you!” : DON’T LET ME DOWN!
33. Harold Hill’s portrayer in the original cast of “The Music Man” : ROBERT PRESTON
35. Bugs : ANNOYS
37. Lemon oil source : RIND
38. Green on a screen : EVA
39. Most important part : MEAT
40. See 22-Across : BARE
41. Wild catch? : PREY
42. Rested : SAT
43. Party spread : BRIE
44. Garden assets : WORMS
45. Test of effectiveness : TRIAL RUN
48. Bright yellow fruit : CASABA
49. Some Kings’ Scholars : ETONIANS
50. Exceeding the usual rate : PRICEY
51. Like the papacy of Pius IX, after St. Peter : LONGEST
52. Another name for Michaelmas daisies : ASTERS

Down
1. Creates, as trouble : BREWS UP
2. Yellow pages? : LEGAL PAD
3. Hostile territory? : AGGRESSOR NATION
4. Took courses : DINED
5. Genesis grandson : ENOS
6. Succumb to gravity : SAG
7. Admit defeat : YIELD
8. Eurasian boundary : URAL
9. Dr. Kildare portrayer Ayres : LEW
10. Longtime band with the 2015 album “Alone in the Universe” : ELO
11. Los Angeles suburb next to San Fernando : LAKE VIEW TERRACE
12. Very small, as an operation : ONE-MAN
13. Gradual, as a slope : GENTLE
15. They’re good for the long haul : FREIGHT TRAINS
19. Talk show talk : BANTER
22. Cafeteria utensils : LADLES
23. “American Me” star, 1992 : OLMOS
25. Do well enough : GET BY
26. Tristram Shandy’s creator : STERNE
27. Came through for : AIDED
29. High-hat : SNOOT
30. TV drama starring Terrence Howard : EMPIRE
32. It begins with All Saints’ Day : NOVEMBER
34. Offers objections to : NAYSAYS
35. Brewery named for a Dutch river : AMSTEL
36. Approaching : NEAR TO
40. Principal force : BRUNT
41. Presuppose : POSIT
43. Two-piece tops : BRAS
44. Private engagements? : WARS
46. First name of 2012’s Best Director : ANG
47. Misrepresentation : LIE
48. 1040 preparer, for short : CPA

Return to top of page