Constructed by: Andrew J. Ries
Edited by: Will Shortz
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Bill’s time: 15m 22s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Résumé datum, for short : GPA
Grade point average (GPA)
A résumé is a summary of a person’s job experience and education and is used as a tool by a job seeker. In many countries, a résumé is equivalent to a curriculum vitae. “Résumé” is the French word for “summary”.
4. Shaggy do : MOP TOP
The classic Beatles haircut was called the mop top. Apparently John Lennon and Paul McCartney saw someone wearing the style in Hamburg, and they liked it. The pair hitchhiked from Hamburg to Paris, and when at their destination had their hair cut that way for the first time.
13. Former fort named for a Union general : ORD
Fort Ord was an army post on Monterey Bay in California named after a General Ord. It was established in 1917, and closed in 1994. The fort was in a spectacular location with miles of beachfront, and it also had that lovely California weather. The old fort’s land is now managed as the Fort Ord National Monument.
17. Producer of 18-minute talks : TED
The acronym “TED” stands for Technology Entertainment and Design. TED is a set of conferences held around the world by a non-profit group called the Sapling Foundation. The conference subjects are varied, and the meetings are often led by big names such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bill Gates and Jane Goodall. The Sapling Foundation then makes recordings of the conferences available for free online with the intent of disseminating the ideas globally. These conferences are known as “TED Talks”.
19. ___ Chernow, biographer whose “Alexander Hamilton” inspired “Hamilton” : RON
Author and journalist Ron Chernow is perhaps best known as a biographer. Chernow wrote about the lives of two US presidents, namely Ulysses S. Grant and George Washington. His biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was adapted into the incredibly successful stage musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
20. Winter carnival spectacle : ICE PALACE
An ice palace is a temporary structure, one made from blocks of ice. The first such structure was built on the order of the Empress Anna in Saint Petersburg, Russia in the winter of 1739. That particular ice palace was an elaborate affair, erected during the celebrations following Russia’s victory over the Ottoman Empire. The palace survived for several months, eventually melting at the start of the following summer.
27. “Oklahoma!” aunt : ELLER
“Oklahoma!” was the first musical written by the great duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The storyline comes from a 1931 stage play called “Green Grow the Lilacs”.
29. Hanauma Bay locale : OAHU
Hanauma Bay is located east of Honolulu on the coast of Oahu. In Hawaiian “hana” means bay and “uma” means curve, so the locals usually refer to the area as simply “Hanauma”, as the word “Bay” is extraneous.
31. Natives for whom a state is named : UTES
The Ute are a group of Native American tribes that now reside in Utah and Colorado. The Ute were not a unified people as such, but rather a loose association of nomadic groups. The word “Ute” means “Land of the Sun”, and “Ute” also gave us the state name “Utah”.
32. Life preservers? : CEREAL BOXES
The breakfast cereal called Life was introduced by Quaker Oats in 1961. Back then, Life contained just whole grain oats. Today’s recipe includes added sugar and flour.
37. Intuition, jocularly : SPIDEY SENSE
“Spidey sense” is a phrase used to describe one’s intuition or instinct, especially when sensing something that might be dangerous. The term arises from the comic book hero Spider-Man’s ability to sense danger before others.
39. Prime rater, for short : USDA
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) classifies meat into eight different grades:
- Prime
- Choice
- Select
- Standard
- Commercial
- Utility
- Cutter
- Canner
47. Black ___ : OPS
“Black ops” is the name given to covert operations, activities that are usually outside of standard military protocol and may even be against the law. Funding for black ops is usually provided by a secret “black budget”.
51. Skill of many “S.N.L.” cast members : IMITATING
NBC first aired a form of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) in 1975 under the title “NBC’s Saturday Night”. The show was actually created to give Johnny Carson some time off from “The Tonight Show”. Back then “The Tonight Show” had a weekend episode, and Carson convinced NBC to pull the Saturday or Sunday recordings off the air and hold them for subsequent weeknights in which Carson needed a break. NBC turned to Lorne Michaels and asked him to put together a variety show to fill the vacant slot, and he came up with what we now call “Saturday Night Live”.
56. Academy recognition, informally : NOM
Nomination (nom.)
58. Be intriguing? : CONNIVE
To connive is to conspire with, to cooperate in secret. The term comes from the Latin verb “connivere” meaning “to wink”, the idea being that connivers might give each other a sly wink.
60. European carrier : SAS
SAS was formerly known as Scandinavian Airlines System and is the flag carrier of three countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. SAS is based at Stockholm Arlanda Airport located just north of the Swedish capital.
62. Booker’s title: Abbr. : SEN
Cory Booker has been a US Senator for New Jersey since 2013, having previously served as the Mayor of Newark. Booker is one of the few vegetarians in the US Congress.
Down
4. Home of Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory,” informally : MOMA
The founding of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City was very much driven by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, the wife of John D. Rockefeller, son of the oil magnate. Working with two friends, Abby managed to get the museum opened in 1929, just nine days after the Wall Street Crash. The MoMA’s sculpture garden bears the name of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and has done so since 1949.
“The Persistence of Memory” is probably Salvador Dalí’s most famous work. It features the celebrated “melting clocks”, and you can see them in the painting in the MoMA in New York City.
6. Poolside drink : PINA COLADA
“Piña colada” is a Spanish term which translates into “strained pineapple”. The piña colada cocktail was introduced in the Caribe Hilton San Juan in 1954, and since 1978 it has been the official beverage of Puerto Rico. Yum …
9. Old TV’s ___ Club : PTL
“The PTL Club” was a daily television show hosted by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. PTL is short for both “Praise the Lord” and “People that Love”. The show ended its run of over ten years in 1987 when it was revealed that Jim Bakker was involvement in financial and sexual scandals. Bakker served 5 years in jail, part of an 18-year sentence.
21. Extinct flying reptile : PTEROSAUR
The prefixes “pter-” and “ptero-” mean “pertaining to a wing or a feather”, and come from the Greek word “pteron” (feather). Examples of use would be in the words “pterosaur” and “pterodactyl”.
23. Hirsute character on “The Addams Family” : COUSIN ITT
In the television sitcom “The Addams Family”, the family had a frequent visitor called Cousin Itt. Itt is a short man with long hair that runs from his head to the floor. Cousin Itt was played by Italian actor Felix Silla.
“Hirsute” means “hairy”. The term comes from the Latin “hirsutus” meaning “rough, shaggy”.
26. Ball togs : TUXES
Apparently, the style of men’s evening dress called a “tuxedo” was first worn to a country club event in 1886 in New York. The use of a dark dinner jacket without tails became fashionable at the club with the members, and the tradition spread from there. The country club was located in Tuxedo Park, New York, giving the style of dress its name.
33. Counterparts of tannins, in wine tasting : ACIDS
The terms “tannic acid” and “tannin” are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking this usage is incorrect. Tannic acid is a specific type of tannin, a tannin that doesn’t occur naturally in wines to any significant amount. Tannic acid can be added to wines as a clarifying agent, color stabilizer or even taste enhancer.
34. “This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, / This other ___, demi-paradise”: “Richard II” : EDEN
Here are some famous lines from William Shakespeare’s “Richard II”.
This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
36. Bygone sovereigns : TSARINAS
A tsarina was the wife of a tsar, and so was a Russian empress.
38. Satirical 1968 hit for the Turtles : ELENORE
The Turtles were a Californian rock band active in the late sixties. The biggest hit for the Turtles was 1967’s “Happy Together”.
40. Eyeball cover : SCLERA
The sclera is the white part of the human eye. The sclera is white in most mammals, but in horses it is black. Really, go check!
41. Netflix category : DRAMAS
Netflix was founded in Los Gatos, California in 1997 as a DVD rental company that sent out titles by mail. Netflix no longer focuses on distribution by mail, and instead provides programming on demand. The company is now making a big player in the production of films and TV programs.
46. Interfraternity council pres., e.g. : BMOC
Big Man On Campus (BMOC)
52. Arabian port : ADEN
Aden is a seaport in Yemen that is located on the Gulf of Aden by the eastern approach to the Red Sea. Aden has a long history of British rule, from 1838 until a very messy withdrawal in 1967. A native of Aden is known as an Adeni. Some believe that Cain and Abel are buried in the city.
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Complete List of Clues/Answers
Across
1. Résumé datum, for short : GPA
4. Shaggy do : MOP TOP
10. Grill bit : ASH
13. Former fort named for a Union general : ORD
14. Gets situated : ORIENTS
16. Crowd noise : BOO
17. Producer of 18-minute talks : TED
18. Handcuff : MANACLE
19. ___ Chernow, biographer whose “Alexander Hamilton” inspired “Hamilton” : RON
20. Winter carnival spectacle : ICE PALACE
22. Sharp : ACUTE
24. Emporium : MART
25. Athletic conference member: Abbr. : SCH
26. Something hoisted in celebration : TROPHY
27. “Oklahoma!” aunt : ELLER
29. Hanauma Bay locale : OAHU
31. Natives for whom a state is named : UTES
32. Life preservers? : CEREAL BOXES
35. “Spot-on prediction!” : YOU CALLED IT!
37. Intuition, jocularly : SPIDEY SENSE
39. Prime rater, for short : USDA
42. Blocks off : DAMS
43. “The Ascent of Money” historian Ferguson : NIALL
45. Health care coverage providers? : SCRUBS
47. Black ___ : OPS
49. Mango or persimmon : TREE
50. Smartphone setting : ALARM
51. Skill of many “S.N.L.” cast members : IMITATING
53. Masterpiece : GEM
54. Proposed : OFFERED
56. Academy recognition, informally : NOM
57. #MeToo ___ : ERA
58. Be intriguing? : CONNIVE
59. What the French “es,” “sont” and “sommes” all mean : ARE
60. European carrier : SAS
61. No-good : ROTTEN
62. Booker’s title: Abbr. : SEN
Down
1. Crucial hour, informally : GO-TIME
2. Course introducing functions and limits, for short : PRECALC
3. Hall-of-Fame cornerback Herb : ADDERLEY
4. Home of Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory,” informally : MOMA
5. They’re all talk : ORALS
6. Poolside drink : PINA COLADA
7. Opportunity for a lesson that wasn’t planned : TEACHABLE MOMENT
8. Without repeating : ONCE
9. Old TV’s ___ Club : PTL
10. Sudden : ABRUPT
11. Give relief : SOOTHE
12. Dears : HONEYS
15. Put a quick crust on : SEAR
21. Extinct flying reptile : PTEROSAUR
23. Hirsute character on “The Addams Family” : COUSIN ITT
26. Ball togs : TUXES
28. Go back for more, in a way : RE-UP
30. One manifestation of God : HOLY SPIRIT
33. Counterparts of tannins, in wine tasting : ACIDS
34. “This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, / This other ___, demi-paradise”: “Richard II” : EDEN
36. Bygone sovereigns : TSARINAS
38. Satirical 1968 hit for the Turtles : ELENORE
39. Some dictionary notes : USAGES
40. Eyeball cover : SCLERA
41. Netflix category : DRAMAS
44. Errand runners : LEGMEN
46. Interfraternity council pres., e.g. : BMOC
48. Madden of fashion : STEVE
51. “Otherwise …” : IF NO …
52. Arabian port : ADEN
55. Pro : FOR
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10 thoughts on “0601-18 NY Times Crossword Answers 1 Jun 2018, Friday”
Comments are closed.
12:12 Fastest Friday time ever for me. I got some of the long answers early which helped. Only minor problems were putting in ACrid at 22A and NOd at 56A but fixed those pretty quickly. Obscure sports knowledge defintiely came in handy at 3D.
20:18, no errors. For some reason, I was convinced that Chernow’s first name was IRA. Don’t know where that came from …
28:18 but completely butchered the SE. I didn’t know NIALL or ELENORE. I had TSARIsts and IMITATIon and never really recovered. Long answers came quickly and like Marc I knew Herb ADDERLEY off the top of my head.
Stanley Cup games are back in D.C. this weekend so I get some rest before attending Game 5 on Thursday.
Best –
Dave, that’s funny, I also thought it was Ira Chernow. And Jeff, I put in imitation first too.
@Marc … I’m almost certain there was an Ira Chernow whose name I saw frequently, and your comment supports that, but Google fails to reveal him.
25:32, no errors. Just enough familiar clues to provide the ‘aha’ moments needed to complete this one. I also fell into the pitfalls of AC(rid) before ACUTE; NO(d) before NOM; IMITATI(on) before IMITATING. My first thought seeing ‘Shaggy do’ came from my kids watching the Scooby-do cartoon series. Scooby’s best buddy was named Shaggy, and he also sported a mop top.
Timing recording error; 14 errors/unfilled. Another great example of “manufactured difficulty”. Overall, feel the clues were simply UNFAIR. I also fell prey to the IMITATI(on) / IMITATING trap.
Not real happy with the grids of late. This week’s pretty much ruined, and I haven’t even laid eyes on Saturday’s tester.
As a nytimes cw newbie, i would like to ask you some questions. My email milesdiamond@yahoo.com.
Miles
Thought after a quick start that this would be pretty easy for Friday. Turned out not to be easy, but interesting to deal with and solve–with some persistence. (Excuse for late post: out most of the day.)
30 minutes, no errors. Smooth enough puzzle though the usual specious cluing is present.