0301-26 NY Times Crossword 1 Mar 26, Sunday

Bill’s time: 19m 20s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1A Supply for Hershey : COCOA

Milton Hershey used profits from the sale of his successful Lancaster Caramel Company to construct a chocolate plant in his hometown of Derry Church, Pennsylvania. Hershey started building the factory in 1903, and by 1906 his chocolate was so successful that Derry Church changed its name to Hershey, Pennsylvania.

16A Sources of fur in some luxury clothing : CHINCHILLAS

A chinchilla is a rodent found in the Andes in South America. It is a little larger than a squirrel, and has velvet-like fur. It takes its name from the local Chincha people who made clothing out of the fur. Chinchillas are quite rare in the wild now as they have been hunted almost out of existence, but there are plenty of farm-raised chinchillas around supporting the fur industry, sad to say …

17A “The Sopranos” airer : HBO

“The Sopranos” is an outstanding television drama made by HBO that is a story about Italian-American mobsters in New Jersey. “The Sopranos” is regularly cited as one of the best TV series of all time. It’s “must see TV” …

22A Eldest of a trio of musical brothers : KEVIN JONAS

The Jonas Brothers Pop rock band comprises brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas. They recorded their first song in 2005, and really achieved fame a few years later due to repeated appearances on the Disney Channel. They split up in 2013, citing “creative differences”, but came back as a trio in 2019.

24A Bush family member : LAURA

Laura Bush, wife of President George W. Bush, had her memoir “Spoken from the Heart” published in 2010. Born Laura Lane Welch, the former First Lady has a Master’s degree in Library Science (as does my wife, my own First Lady!). Given that background, it’s not surprising that two causes that Laura Bush focused on while in the White House were education and literacy. She established the annual National Book Festival, first held in Washington, D.C. in 2001, after having co-founded the Texas Book Festival in her home state.

29A Is in Montreal? : EST

The original name of Montreal was “Ville-Marie”, meaning “City of Mary”. “Ville-Marie” is now the name of a borough in the city, the borough which includes the downtown area and “Old Montreal”. The present-day city covers most of the Island of Montreal (in French, “Île de Montréal”) that is located where the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers meet. The name “Montreal” comes from the three-headed hill that dominates the island and is called “Mount Royal”.

30A Like Buffalo, N.Y., about 167 days a year, typically : RAINY

Buffalo is the second-most populous city in the state of New York. The city takes its name from Buffalo Creek that runs through the metropolis (although the waterway is called Buffalo River within the city).

37A Cartoon being that lives in a mushroom : SMURF

The Smurfs are little blue people created in 1958 by the Belgian cartoonist who went by the pen name Peyo. The Smurfs became famous in the US when Hanna-Barbera used them in a children’s cartoon series. The characters are largely a group of males. The original lineup included just one “Smurfette”, who is wooed by almost all of the boy Smurfs. Later, another female was introduced into the mix called Sassette, and still later along came Granny Smurf.

39A Wolf (down) : SNARF

To snarf down is to gobble up, to eat voraciously. “To snarf” is a slang term that is probably related to “to scarf”, which has the same meaning.

42A Valley of the Kings viper : ASP

The Valley of the Kings in Egypt is located on the west bank of the Nile opposite the modern city of Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. There are about 60 individual burial chambers in the area that housed the bodies of notable royals and nobles of Ancient Egypt.

44A 2013 film whose titular character is captured by Somali pirates : CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Captain Phillips is a 2013 film starring Tom Hanks as the title character, a real-life merchant mariner who was kidnapped by Somali pirates in 2009. The movie also has a memorable performance by Barkhad Abdi as the leader of the pirates. Before playing the role, Abdi had never acted, and was selling mobile phones in his brother’s shop in Minneapolis. Regardless, “Captain Phillips” earned him a BAFTA win, and an Oscar nomination. Well deserved, I think …

48A Imaging procedures that measure metabolism : PET SCANS

A PET scan is a medical diagnostic tool that relies on the detection of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a radioactive tracer isotope introduced into the body. Usually, the tracer isotope is incorporated into a glucose-like sugar and then injected into the bloodstream. After about an hour, the radioactive compound has been concentrated in areas of high metabolic activity, perhaps a malignant tumor. As the isotope decays, it emits positrons. The positrons interact with electrons resulting in annihilation of the particles with emission of gamma photons. These gamma photons are detected and are drawn on a map showing where the molecular tracer has concentrated. The acronym PET stands for positron emission tomography.

56A Cougar : PUMA

The mountain lion is found in much of the Americas from the Yukon in Canada right down to the southern Andes in South America. Because the mountain lion is found over such a vast area, it has many different names applied by local peoples, such as “cougar” and “puma”. In fact, the mountain lion holds the Guinness record for the animal with the most number of different names, with over 40 in English alone.

64A Rn : radon :: Sn : ___ : TIN

The Latin word for tin is “stannum”, and so tin’s atomic symbol is “Sn”. One of the ores used as a source of tin is “stannite”.

66A Athlete who’s the subject of a museum in Louisville : ALI

“The Muhammad Ali Center” is a museum in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The center was opened in 2005 and explores the life of the champion boxer and features exhibitions that reflect Ali’s core values. I’m a real “museumphile”, and so was thrilled to be able to visit the Muhammad Ali Center a few years ago. Sadly, I found that this one missed the mark somehow …

67A Certain fallacy … or what’s indicated by every “sign” in this puzzle’s grid : SLIPPERY SLOPE

A slippery slope fallacy is one in which a claim is made, without evidence, that one position or decision will lead to a progression of unintended consequences.

75A Air Max maker : NIKE

The Nike Air Max is a line of running shoes first released by Nike in 1987. Its defining feature is the visible air cushioning unit in the midsole, designed to provide enhanced impact absorption and comfort.

76A Hall’s musical partner : OATES

Daryl Hall & John Oates are a pop music duo who were most successful in the late seventies and early eighties. They had six number-one hits, including the 1982 release “Maneater”.

78A Old coin worth 1/20 of a pound : BRITISH SHILLING

Here are some slang terms used for old British coins, coins that became obsolete after the UK moved to decimal currency in 1971:

• Coppers: farthing, halfpenny, penny coins
• Tanner: sixpence
• Bob: shilling

80A Composer Zimmer : HANS

Hans Zimmer is a film composer from Frankfurt in Germany. The long list of films that Zimmer has scored includes “Rain Man” (1988), “The Lion King” (1994), “Gladiator” (2000), “The Dark Knight” (2008), “Inception” (2010) and “12 Years a Slave” (2013).

83A Popular surfing destination : MAUI

Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian islands. It is sometimes called the “Valley Isle” as it is composed of two volcanoes to the northwest and southeast of the island, each with numerous beautiful valleys carved into them.

85A It might be at the end of the road : CUL-DE-SAC

Even though “cul-de-sac” can indeed mean “bottom-of-the-bag” in French, this term is of English origin. It 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”.

91A Very quickly pop in and out? : TELEPORT

Teleportation is a favorite of authors of science fiction. The hypothetical process results in the transfer of matter from one point to another, with actually crossing the intervening space. Beam me up, Scotty!

95A Symbol of wisdom : OWL

The Greek goddess Athena (sometimes “Athene”) is often associated with wisdom, among other attributes. In many representations, Athena is depicted with an owl sitting on her head. It is this linkage of the owl with the goddess of wisdom that led to today’s perception of the owl as being “wise”. Athena’s Roman counterpart was Minerva.

97A Hindu teacher : SWAMI

A swami is a religious teacher in the Hindu tradition. The word “swami” can also mean “husband” in the Bengali and Malay languages.

111A Polynesian party : LUAU

The Hawaiian party or feast known as a “luau” really dates back to 1819, when King Kamehameha II removed religious laws that governed the eating of meals. These laws called for women and men to eat separately. At the same time as he changed the laws, the king initiated the luau tradition by symbolically eating with the women who moved in his circle.

113A Sam who co-starred in “Jurassic Park” : NEILL

Sam Neill is a very talented actor from New Zealand, although he spent the first few years of his life in Northern Ireland. I really enjoyed Neill in a 1983 television miniseries called “Reilly, Ace of Spies”, about a British spy operation during WWI. He is perhaps better-known for his roles in the movies “Omen III”, “Dead Calm”, “Jurassic Park” and “The Hunt for Red October”.

“Jurassic Park” is a 1993 Steven Spielberg movie that is based on Michael Crichton’s novel of the same name. According to Spielberg, the terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex is “the star of the movie”. That may be true, but what’s not true is that the creature existed during the Jurassic period. The T. rex roamed the Earth much later, in the late Cretaceous period.

117A Mockumentary band with the real-life album “Break Like the Wind” : SPINAL TAP

“This Is Spın̈al Tap” is a rock musical mockumentary about the fictional band Spinal Tap, directed by the great Rob Reiner. I love Rob Reiner’s work, but this movie … not so much …

121A Pertaining to conflict, in behavioral science : AGONISTIC

The word “agonistic” has its roots in ancient Greek. It derives from the Greek word “agonistes” meaning “competitor” or “rival.” Over time, the meaning of “agonistic” broadened to encompass any kind of struggle or conflict, including those that are more symbolic or intellectual.

123A Staticky laundry phenomenon : CLING

Static cling occurs when two materials rub together (like socks in a dryer), and electrons are transferred. This leaves one surface positively charged and the other negatively charged, and electrostatic attraction causes them to stick together.

124A Postscript : ENDNOTE

One adds a PS (post scriptum, or simply “postscript”) at the end of a letter (ltr.). A second postscript is a post post scriptum, a PPS.

Down

3D Mole, maybe : CIA ASSET

A mole is a spy who works from within the ranks of an enemy’s government or intelligence service. The use of “mole” took off after the publication of John Le Carré’s 1974 novel “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”. The author was himself a former intelligence officer and asserts that “mole” was a term used by the KGB, whereas Western agencies used the term “sleeper agent”.

5D Taiwan-based computer company : ACER

Acer is a Taiwanese company that I visited a couple of times when I was in the electronics business. I was very impressed back then with the company’s dedication to quality, although I have heard that things haven’t gone so well in recent years …

7D Stat after hitting a triple with someone on base : RBI

Run batted in (RBI)

8D Source of caffeine : KOLA NUT

The nut of the kola tree has a bitter taste, and is loaded with caffeine. Despite the taste, the nut is habitually chewed in some cultures, especially in West Africa where the tree is commonly found in the rainforest. Here in the US we best know the kola nut as a flavoring used in cola drinks.

12D Hanukkah candle holder : MENORAH

There is a seven-branched menorah used symbolically in ancient temples. However, the Hanukkah menorah is a nine-branched lampstand that is lit during the eight-day holiday called Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. “Menorah” is the Hebrew word for “lamp”.

13D ___ California : BAJA

The Baja California Peninsula lies in the northwest of Mexico. It is bounded on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and on the northeast by the Gulf of California. The border city of Mexicali sits at the north of the peninsula, and the resort city of Cabo San Lucas sits at the southern tip.

14D “Micro” or “macro” class : ECON

Macroeconomics is the study of economies as a whole, rather than of individual markets. Microeconomics is focused on the actions of individual entities like companies or individuals, and how these actions impact specific markets.

19D Common accompaniment for butter chicken : BASMATI RICE

Basmati is a long grain rice that is commonly used in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. The name “basmati” comes from the Sanskrit word “vasmati” meaning “fragrant”. I am a big fan …

23D ___ of Liberty (American Revolution group) : SONS

The Sons of Liberty was a secret organization in Colonial America that opposed the imposition of local taxes by the British. The group embraced the watchword at the time. “No Taxation without Representation”. The most famous act of rebellion by the Sons of Liberty was 1773’s Boston Tea Party. The list of notable members of the organization includes John Adams, Benedict Arnold, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere.

34D TV giant with a Deportes channel : ESPN

ESPN Deportes is a sports channel that broadcasts in Spanish (Español ). “Deportes” is Spanish for “sports”.

41D Notable feature of Hagrid or Gandalf : FULL BEARD

Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane is perhaps best known in North America for his portrayal of Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” movies. Coltrane is quite the celebrity in the UK. He appeared sixth on a UK list of “most famous Scots”, after the likes of Sean Connery and the Loch Ness Monster!

Gandalf is an important character in the J. R. R. Tolkien novels “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. He is a wizard known as Gandalf the Grey during his lifetime, and as Gandalf the White after he returns from the dead.

44D Bumpy ride? : CAMEL

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of a camel is the large deposit of fatty tissue on its back. The dromedary is the most common camel, and has one hump of fatty tissue on its back. The Bactrian camel has two humps, and makes up just 6% of the world’s camel population. Those fatty humps are useful if no food or water is available, as fat can be broken down into water and energy.

49D Inits. on a tanning lotion bottle : SPF

Sun protection factor (SPF)

54D Fat-removing procedures, in brief : LIPOS

Liposuction (lipo) dates back to the 1920s when it was developed by a surgeon in France. However, the procedure quickly lost favor when a French model developed gangrene after surgery. As a result, it wasn’t until the mid-seventies that modern liposuction took off, after being popularized by two Italian-American surgeons in Rome.

57D Org. on TV’s “9-1-1” : LAPD

“9-1-1” is a TV series that features the lives of first responders in Los Angeles. Star of the show is Angela Bassett, who plays patrol sergeant Athena Grant.

60D Year in Portugal : ANO

Portugal is the most westerly country in Europe, and is located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula alongside Spain. The name “Portugal” comes from the Latin “Portus Cale”, the name used by ancient Romans for Porto, now the country’s second largest city. Portugal was a far-reaching power in the 15th and 16th centuries, at the center of the world’s first truly global empire. A legacy of the Portuguese Empire is that today there are more than 240 million Portuguese speakers across the world.

61D [Mayday! Mayday!] : ALERT!

The term “Mayday” is an emergency codeword that is used internationally as a distress signal, especially when making a radio transmission. “Mayday” comes from the French phrase “venez m’aider” meaning “come to help me”. When used properly, the term is repeated three times in a row: “Mayday Mayday Mayday”.

62D What’s stored in the cloud : DIGITAL DATA

“On the cloud” or “in the cloud”, that is the question. While working for years within the cloud computing industry, I was only exposed to the phrase “in the cloud”. However, I learned later that the phrase “on the cloud” is out there too.

66D “Fernando” group, 1976 : ABBA

“Fernando” was a 1976 hit for ABBA, and a followup to their smash hit “Dancing Queen”. The song was originally released as a solo single by one of the ABBA band members: Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

69D Dark half of a famous duality : YIN

The yin and yang can be illustrated using many different metaphors. In one, as the sun shines on a mountain, the side in the shade is the yin and the side in the light is the yang. The yin is also regarded as the feminine side, and the yang the masculine. The yin can also be associated with the moon, while the yang is associated with the sun.

70D Young turkey : POULT

A male turkey is called a tom or a gobbler. Female turkeys are hens, and baby turkeys are called poults.

85D ___ Smythe Trophy (award for the N.H.L. playoff M.V.P.) : CONN

The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded annually since 1965 to the MVP during the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The recipient is decided based on votes submitted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The award is named for Conn Smythe, former owner, general manager and coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

88D GoPro, e.g., informally : CAM

GoPro is a company that makes high-definition video cameras that have a rugged design. Famously, GoPro cameras are used in extreme conditions. For example, they are often mounted on moving vehicles or used by people playing sports. Two astronauts on the International Space Station inserted a GoPro camera inside a floating ball of water, and then showed the view from inside the ball of water. Amazing footage …

92D Exile locale for Napoleon : ELBA

Napoléon Bonaparte was a military professional from Corsica who rose to prominence after the French Revolution during the French First Republic. He took over the country in 1799 in a coup d’état and installed himself as First Consul. Soon after, he led France in the Napoleonic Wars, conflicts between the growing French Empire and a series of opposing coalitions. He was eventually defeated at the Battle of Leipzig and was forced into exile on the Italian island of Elba off the Tuscan coast. Napoleon escaped in 1815 and regained power, only to be finally defeated a few months later at the Battle of Waterloo. The British dispatched him to the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic where he lived out the last six years of his life as a prisoner.

100D Where Benjamin Franklin is buried, familiarly : PHILLY

Benjamin Franklin came from a large family. He was his father’s fifteenth child (Josiah Franklin had seventeen children in all, with two wives). Benjamin was born in Boston in 1706. He had very little schooling, heading out to work for his father when he was ten years old. He became an apprentice printer to his older brother at the age of twelve. Benjamin did quite well with that limited education …

104D Singer Goulding with the 2015 hit “Love Me Like You Do” : ELLIE

“Love Me Like You Do” is a 2015 song recorded by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. The song was written specifically for the soundtrack of the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

112D Sch. about 10 miles from the Hollywood Bowl : USC

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private school in Los Angeles. Apart from its excellent academic record, USC is known for the success of its athletic program. USC Trojans have won more Olympic medals than the students of any other university in the world. The USC marching band is very famous as well, and is known as the “Spirit of Troy”. The band has performed with many celebrities, and is the only college band to have two platinum records.

The amphitheatre known as the Hollywood Bowl has a very distinctive white, arched cover over the stage, which sort of looks like an upturned bowl. That said, the Hollywood Bowl actually takes its name from the concave depression in which it sits, surrounded by the Hollywood Hills.

116D QB’s stat: Abbr. : ATT

In football, one statistic (stat) used to track the performance of a quarterback (QB) is attempts (ATT).

119D Texter’s “Not sure” : IDK

I don’t know (IDK)