0508-20 NY Times Crossword 8 May 20, Friday

Constructed by: Daniel Larsen
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 16m 40s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Rummage sale : BAZAAR

Our word “bazaar”, meaning “market”, comes from the Persian “bazar”, which means the same thing.

16 Where to see the aurora borealis : FAR NORTH

The adjective “boreal” means “northern”, as in “aurora borealis” (northern lights) for example. The term comes from “Boreas”, the Greek god of the north wind.

18 Kindergarten math lesson : ADDING

“Kindergarten” is a German term, one translating as “children’s garden”. The term was coined by the German education authority Friedrich Fröbel in 1837, when he used it as the name for his play and activity institute that he created for young children to use before they headed off to school. His thought was that children should be nourished educationally, like plants in a garden.

20 Its exterior is the edible mold Penicillium candidum : BRIE

Brie is a soft cheese that is named for the French region in which it originated. Brie is similar to the equally famous (and delicious) Camembert. Brie is often served baked in puff pastry.

33 DC figures : SUPERHEROES

DC Comics takes its name from what used to be a highly popular series called “Detective Comics”. The main competitor to DC Comics is Marvel Comics, and between the two companies, they command 80% of comic sales in the US market. Nowadays of course, a lot of company income comes from movies that use the most popular characters from the original comics.

37 Goodbye : ADIEU

“Adieu” is French for “goodbye, farewell”, from “à Dieu” meaning “to God”. The plural of “adieu” is “adieux”.

43 Base ___ : TEN

Our base-10 numeral system is also known as the decimal (sometimes “denary”) numeral system. Another common numeral system is base-2, which is also known as the binary system.

47 Setting for many Manet paintings of the bourgeoisie : CAFE

Édouard Manet was a French painter whose works are mainly classified as Realist. Manet was friends with Impressionists masters like Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir and greatly influenced the Impressionist movement. The list of Manet’s marvelous paintings includes “Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe”, “Le Repose” and “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère”.

52 Many members of Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation : ARAPAHOS

Wind River Indian Reservation is in Wyoming, and is shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Native American tribes.

54 Jean on the Hollywood Walk of Fame : HARLOW

Jean Harlow was a Hollywood actress who was at the height of her success in the nineteen-thirties, appearing in many hit movies for MGM. Sadly, Harlow died in 1937, when she was only 26 years old, from kidney failure that was probably the result of her suffering scarlet fever when she was 15. Harlow wrote a novel that took many years to get published. Called “Today is Tonight”, it first appeared on bookshelves in 1965.

57 Esoteric : ARCANE

Something that is arcane is something that is understood by only a few, something that might be described as mysterious.

Something described as “esoteric” is meant only for a select few with special knowledge. The term comes from the Greek “esoterikos” meaning “belonging to an inner circle”.

58 Socks, once, for Bill and Hillary Clinton : PET CAT

Socks was the pet cat belonging to the Clinton family while they lived in the White House. When President Clinton left office, Socks was adopted by Bettie Currie, the President’s secretary. Apparently Socks wasn’t getting on well with Buddy, the Clintons’ pet dog.

59 ___ Allende, author of “The House of the Spirits” : ISABEL

Isabel Allende is a Chilean writer, apparently the world’s most widely-read, Spanish-language author. Isabel is related to Salvador Allende, the ex-President of Chile.

Down

2 Kind of barometer that doesn’t use liquid : ANEROID

A barometer is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. There are several types of barometer, each using a different technology to measure pressure. Some use water or mercury in a tube. An aneroid barometer uses the amount of “bulge” in a thin metal disk covering a partially-evacuated chamber. This compact technology is often used in barometers that resemble clocks.

3 Ice machines : ZAMBONIS

The first ice resurfacing machine was developed in 1949 by one Frank Zamboni. The eponymous Zamboni machine works by simultaneously executing a number of tasks. First, the surface of the ice is scraped off by a sharp blade. Next the ice is “washed” with water sprayed from the front of the Zamboni, and that wash water is vacuumed back up and filtered to remove impurities. Water is then reapplied to the scraped ice by a wet towel dragging behind the machine, forming a new skating surface.

4 Gymgoer’s pride : ABS

The abdominal muscles (abs) are more correctly referred to as the rectus abdominis muscles. They might be referred to as a “six-pack”, or even a “ten-pack”, in a person who has developed the muscles and who has low body fat. In my case, more like a keg …

7 Short-legged dog : CORGI

The Welsh corgi is a herding dog that originated in Britain, with two recognized breeds: the Pembroke and Cardigan. Corgis aren’t fast enough to do their job by running around livestock like collies, and instead nip at the heels. “Corgi” is Welsh for “dwarf dog”.

9 La-di-da sort : SNOB

Back in the 1780s, a snob was a shoemaker or a shoemaker’s apprentice. By the end of the 18th century the word “snob” was being used by students at Cambridge University in England to refer to all local merchants and people of the town. The term evolved to mean one who copies those who are his or her social superior (and not in a good way). From there it wasn’t a big leap for “snob” to include anyone who emphasized their superior social standing and not just those who aspired to rank. Nowadays a snob is anyone who looks down on those considered to be of inferior standing.

10 Actress Gina of “Suits” : TORRES

Actress Gina Torres plays the formidable Jessica Pearson on the USA Network show “Suits”. In real life, Gina is married to the actor Laurence Fishburne. Torres and Fishburne appeared together on the horror TV show “Hannibal”, in which they played a married couple.

“Suits” is an entertaining, albeit formulaic, legal drama that is set in New York City. One of the main characters in the show Mike Ross, a brilliant law school dropout who poses as a law associate. Mike Ross’ love interest is paralegal Rachel Zane. Zane is played by actress Meghan Markle, who married the UK’s Prince Harry in 2018.

14 Luke Skywalker sold his in Mos Eisley : LANDSPEEDER

When the character Luke Skywalker was created for “Star Wars”, he was named “Annikin Starkiller”. Conceptually, he was a 60-year-old war veteran for a while, and also a female at one point. Luke is played by actor Mark Hamill in the “Star Wars” films.

19 Periodic Atacama occurrence : DESERT BLOOM

Even deserts get rain at some point in the year, with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is the Atacama Desert in South America, which receives no rain at all.

24 Fortunetelling tool : TAROT

Tarot cards have been around since the mid-1400s, and for centuries were simply used for entertainment as a game. It has only been since the late 1800s that the cards have been used by fortune tellers to predict the future. The list of tarot cards includes the Wheel of Fortune, the Hanged Man and the Lovers.

31 Yves Saint Laurent perfume since 1977 : OPIUM

The Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) perfume named “Opium” was introduced in 1977. Opium caused quite a stir when it first hit the stores, as many interpreted the use of the term “opium” as an endorsement of drug usage.

32 ___ Luyendyk Jr., former bachelor on “The Bachelor” : ARIE

Arie Luyendyk is a racing driver from the Netherlands, winner of the Indianapolis 500 on two occasions. Luyendyk’s son, also called Arie, is following in his father’s footsteps and is also an auto racer. Arie Luyendyk Jr. also appeared on the reality shows “The Bachelorette” in 2012, and “The Bachelor” in 2018.

37 Where capture the flag is often played : AT CAMP

The kid’s game “Capture the Flag” has gone hi-tech. There are computer versions of the game now, as well as an intriguing “urban game” version. In the urban game, players head out into the city streets and play in teams while communicating by cell phone.

45 Bygone messaging service : ICHAT

iChat was introduced in 2002, and was Apple’s “instant messaging” application that integrated with the Mac Operating System. iChat was replaced by the Messages app.

46 Franchise with the most victories in N.F.L. history : BEARS

The Chicago Bears were founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1919 and moved to Chicago in 1921. The Bears are one of only two franchises in the NFL that were around at the time of the NFL’s founding (the other being the Arizona Cardinals, also based in Chicago in 1921).

50 Beverage flavored with cardamom : CHAI

Chai is a drink made from spiced black tea, honey and milk, with “chai” being the Hindi word for “tea”. We often called tea “a cup of char” growing up in Ireland, with “char” being our slang word for tea, derived from “chai”.

The spice known as cardamom comes from the seeds of several plants that are native to India. Those plants were introduced to Guatemala in the early 20th century, and now Guatemala produces and exports more cardamom than any other country in the world, even India. Cardamom is the third-priciest spice on the market today by weight, after vanilla and saffron.

53 Obama health law, for short : ACA

The correct name for what has been dubbed “Obamacare” is the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (ACA).

55 Electronics co. that once owned Random House : RCA

The Random House publishing house was founded in 1925 by Donald Klopfer and the marvelous Bennett Cerf of TV’s “What’s My Line”. Apparently, Klopfer and Cerf originally resolved to “publish a few books on the side at random”, and hence came up with the name “Random House”.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Rummage sale : BAZAAR
7 Billing partner : COSTAR
13 Turn on, say : ENABLE
14 Bummer : LOW NOTE
15 Surrounds : HEMS IN
16 Where to see the aurora borealis : FAR NORTH
17 Planet, poetically : ORB
18 Kindergarten math lesson : ADDING
20 Its exterior is the edible mold Penicillium candidum : BRIE
21 Towers : LOOMS
23 Break up : END IT
25 Series of ages : ERA
26 Bird’s long-ago relative, informally : DINO
27 “___ traditional …” : AS IS
28 Strength : ASSET
30 Contributed : DID ONE’S PART
33 DC figures : SUPERHEROES
35 Manhattan neighborhood between the East Village and Chinatown : LITTLE ITALY
37 Goodbye : ADIEU
40 Wait for : BIDE
41 Cross : MEET
43 Base ___ : TEN
44 “Corner-of-the-Street” poet : MILNE
46 One way of playing things : BY EAR
47 Setting for many Manet paintings of the bourgeoisie : CAFE
49 Lean on : COERCE
51 ___-choice : PRO
52 Many members of Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation : ARAPAHOS
54 Jean on the Hollywood Walk of Fame : HARLOW
56 Small shooter : MINICAM
57 Esoteric : ARCANE
58 Socks, once, for Bill and Hillary Clinton : PET CAT
59 ___ Allende, author of “The House of the Spirits” : ISABEL

Down

1 Magician’s cry : BEHOLD!
2 Kind of barometer that doesn’t use liquid : ANEROID
3 Ice machines : ZAMBONIS
4 Gymgoer’s pride : ABS
5 Something to assume : ALIAS
6 Tear : REND
7 Short-legged dog : CORGI
8 Possess … or totally destroy : OWN
9 La-di-da sort : SNOB
10 Actress Gina of “Suits” : TORRES
11 Difference between a well-dressed bicyclist and a poorly dressed unicyclist, in a joke : ATTIRE
12 Nuke, say : REHEAT
14 Luke Skywalker sold his in Mos Eisley : LANDSPEEDER
16 Things that often have ribbons : FINISH LINES
19 Periodic Atacama occurrence : DESERT BLOOM
22 Space station section : MODULE
24 Fortunetelling tool : TAROT
27 Caught in ___ : A NET
29 Full of passion : STEAMY
31 Yves Saint Laurent perfume since 1977 : OPIUM
32 ___ Luyendyk Jr., former bachelor on “The Bachelor” : ARIE
34 Polysomnography facility : SLEEP LAB
36 Beginning of a timeline : YEAR ONE
37 Where capture the flag is often played : AT CAMP
38 Term of affection : DEARIE
39 One might keep you up at night : INFANT
42 Gardening tool : TROWEL
45 Bygone messaging service : ICHAT
46 Franchise with the most victories in N.F.L. history : BEARS
48 Word before tale or fail : EPIC …
50 Beverage flavored with cardamom : CHAI
53 Obama health law, for short : ACA
55 Electronics co. that once owned Random House : RCA