Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Vanna's cohort PAT
Pat Sajak took over the hosting of "Wheel of Fortune" from Chuck Woolery back in 1983 and has been doing the job ever since. Sajak had a short run as a talk show host in 1989/1990 and used to sub quite often for Larry King and Regis Philbin.

Vanna White is the lady who turns the letters on the “Wheel of Fortune” game show. White is big into knitting and crochet, and has her own line of yarns called “Vanna’s Choice”.

“Cohort” can be used as a collective noun, meaning a group or company. The term can also apply to a company or associate. The term comes from the Latin “cohors”, which was an infantry company in the Roman army, one tenth of a legion.

4. Smidgens IOTAS
Iota is the ninth letter in the Greek alphabet. We use the word "iota" to portray something very small, as it is the smallest of all Greek letters.

9. Thicket COPSE
A copse is a small stand of trees. The term “copse” originally applied to a small thicket that was specifically grown for cutting.

14. Boston Marathon mo. APR
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, outside of the Olympic event. The first Boston Marathon was held way back in 1897 to celebrate Patriots Day, which marks the end of the American Revolution.

15. Meat and greet patio party? BAR-B-Q
It is believed that our word “barbecue” comes from the Taíno people of the Caribbean in whose language “barbacoa” means “sacred fire pit”. The word is sometimes abbreviated to “BBQ” or “Bar-B-Q”.

16. Skylit courtyards ATRIA
In modern architecture an atrium (plural “atria” or “atriums”) is a large open space usually in the center of a building and extending upwards to the roof. The original atrium was an open court in the center of an Ancient Roman house. One could access most of the enclosed rooms of the house from the atrium.

21. Switz. neighbor AUS
The name “Austria” is a Latin variant of the German name for the country, “Österreich”. “Österreich” itself means “Eastern borderlands”, a reference to the country’s history as a prefecture of neighboring Bavaria to the west.

23. "M*A*S*H" Emmy winner for acting, writing and directing ALDA
Alan Alda has had a great television career, especially of course on "M*A*S*H". Alda won his first Emmy in 1972, for playing Hawkeye Pierce on "M*A*S*H". He won his most recent Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick in “The West Wing”. When it comes to the big screen, my favorite of Alda’s movies is the 1978 romantic comedy "Same Time, Next Year" in which he starred opposite Ellen Burstyn.

24. German autos BMWS
The abbreviation BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which translates into Bavarian Motor Works. BMW was making aircraft engines during WWI, but had to cease that activity according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The company then started making motorcycles, and moved into automobile production starting in 1928. BMW moved back into aircraft engine manufacturing during the build-up of the Luftwaffe prior to WWII.

26. Women's undergarment, briefly CAMI
A camisole (also “cami”) is a sleeveless undergarment worn by women that extends down to the waist. "Camisole" is a French word that we imported into English, which ultimately derives from the Latin "camisia" meaning "shirt, nightgown".

32. Cracker with a scalloped edge RITZ
I've always liked Ritz crackers. They've been around since 1934 when they were introduced by Nabisco. The name Ritz was chosen because the marketing folks felt that the association with Ritz-Carlton would evoke images of wealth and the highlife.

34. Provides with a soundtrack DUBS
If voices needed to be altered on the soundtrack of a film, that means double the work as there needs to be a re-recording. “Dub” is short for “double”, and is a term we’ve been using since the late 1920s. The term has been extended to describe the adding of sound to an otherwise silent film or tape.

39. Shakespeare's river AVON
There are actually four rivers called the Avon in England, but "Shakespeare's Avon" lies mainly in Warwickshire. The name "Avon" comes from the Old English word for a river, "abona". Stratford-upon-Avon was the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

40. Stockholm 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.

47. Author Rice ANNE
Anne Rice is an American author of erotic and Gothic novels. Rice was born Howard Allen O'Brien (no wonder she changed her name!). Her famous series of novels "The Vampire Chronicles" centers on her character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman who was turned into a vampire in the 18th century. One of the stories, "Interview with the Vampire", was adapted for the big screen in 1994 and features Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and others in a star-studded cast. Not my kind of movie though, as I don't do vampires …

49. Medicine Hat's prov. ALTA
Alberta (Alta.) is a big province, about the size of Texas. Alberta is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Princess Louise also donated her name to Lake Louise, the large glacial lake in the province, now within the bounds of Banff National Park.

Medicine Hat is a city in Alberta. Canada. Medicine Hat is known for its extensive natural gas fields. In fact, English writer Rudyard Kipling described the city as having “all hell for a basement”.

51. Org. for docs AMA
American Medical Association (AMA)

52. Exited quickly, in slang BAILED
The phrase “to bail out” (sometimes just “to bail”) means to leave suddenly. We’ve been using the term since the early thirties, originating with airline pilots. To bail out is to make a parachute jump.

54. Yes, to the Magic 8 Ball IT IS DECIDEDLY SO
The Magic 8-Ball is a toy, supposedly a fortune-telling device, introduced by Mattel in 1946. There are 20 answers that the Magic 8-Ball can provide, including:

- Without a doubt
- Ask again later
- My sources say no
- Outlook not so good
- Signs point to yes
- It is decidedly so

58. "Divine Comedy" poet DANTE
Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" is an epic poem dating back to the 14th century. The first part of that epic is "Inferno", which is the Italian word for "Hell". In the poem, Dante is led on a journey by the poet Virgil, starting at the gates of Hell on which are written the famous words "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here".

59. "Fun, Fun, Fun" car in 1960s hit T-BIRD
Ford manufactured the Thunderbird (T-Bird) from 1955 to 2005, originally as a two-seater sporty convertible. The T-Bird was introduced as a competitor to Chevrolet’s new sports car, the Corvette.

“Fun, Fun, Fun” is a 1964 song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the Beach Boys. The English rock band Status Quo released a great cover version of “Fun, Fun, Fun” in 1996, which featured the Beach Boys on backup vocals.

60. Make faces for the camera MUG
The verb "to mug" means to make an exaggerated facial expression. The term comes from mugs used to drink beer (called Toby mugs) that are the made in the shape of heads with grotesque expressions. “Mug” can also be a noun meaning “face”.

61. Labor day doc OB/GYN
Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)

62. Church chorus AMENS
The word “amen” is translated as “so be it”. “Amen” is said to be of Hebrew origin, but it is likely to be also influenced by Aramaic and Arabic.

63. Mini-albums, briefly EPS
An extended play record (EP) contains more music than a single, but less than an LP.

Down
2. Ill-fated 1967 moon mission APOLLO I
Apollo 1 was planned to be the first manned mission in NASA’s lunar landing program. Sadly, the three crew members perished in a tragic cabin fire that took place in a launch pad test. The astronauts who died were Gus Grissom (the second American to fly in space), Edward White (the first American to walk in space) and Roger Chaffee (the pilot for the planned Apollo 1 mission).

3. Made even, to a carpenter TRUED UP
A carpenter is a woodworker. “Carpenter” came into English via French from the Latin “carpentarius” meaning “wagon maker”. The earlier “carpentum” is Latin for “wagon”.

5. Cheerios descriptor OATY
Cheerios breakfast cereal has the distinction of being the first oat-based cereal introduced into the market, hitting the grocery store shelves in 1941. Back then, “Cheerios” were known as CheeriOats.

7. Blood-typing letters ABO
The most important grouping of blood types is the ABO system. Blood is classified as either A, B, AB or O, depending on the type of antigens on the surface of the red blood cells. A secondary designation of blood is the Rh factor, in which other antigens are labelled as either positive or negative. When a patient receives a blood transfusion, ideally the donor blood should be the same type as that of the recipient, as incompatible blood cells can be rejected. However, blood type O-neg can be accepted by recipients with all blood types, A, B, AB or O, and positive or negative. Hence someone with O-neg blood type is called a "universal donor".

9. Uber competitors CABS
Uber is a ridesharing service that was founded in 2009 and is based in San Francisco. The service is somewhat controversial and has been described as an illegal taxicab operation. Central to Uber’s service is the company’s mobile app, which can use the client’s GPS location to help find the nearest available ride. Personally, I love the service and only have had good experiences ...

10. Platte River tribe OTO
The Otoe (also Oto) Native American tribe originated in the Great Lakes region as part of the Winnebago or Siouan tribes. The group that would become the Otoe broke away from the Winnebago and migrated southwestwards ending up in the Great Plains. In the plains the Otoe adopted a semi-nomadic lifestyle dependent on the horse, with the American bison becoming central to their diet.

The Platte River used to be called the Nebrakier, which is an Oto word meaning "flat river". Indeed, the state of Nebraska takes its name from “Nebrakier”. For a while it was also called the River Plate as "plate" is the French word "flat". Later this became "Platte", the phonetic spelling of the French "plate".

24. Orders with mayo BLTS
The BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) is the second most popular sandwich in the US, after the plain old ham sandwich.

Mayonnaise originated in the town of Mahon in Menorca, a Mediterranean island belonging to Spain. The Spanish called the sauce “salsa mahonesa” after the town, and this morphed into the French word “mayonnaise” that we use in English today.

25. "Les __": musical nickname MIZ
The 1980 musical "Les Misérables" is an adaptation of the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The show opened in London in 1985, and is the longest running musical in the history of London's West End. My wife and I saw "Les Miz" in the Queen's Theatre in London quite a few years ago, but were only able to get tickets in the very back row. The old theater's seating is very steep, so the back row of the balcony is extremely high over the stage. One of the big events in the storyline is the building of a street barricade over which the rebels fight. At the height we were seated we could see the stagehands behind the barricade, sitting drinking Coke, even smoking cigarettes. On cue, the stagehands would get up and catch a dropped rifle, or an actor that had been shot. It was pretty comical. I didn't really enjoy the show that much, to be honest. Some great songs, but the musical version of the storyline just didn't seem to hang together for me.

26. PCs'"brains"CPUS
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main component on the "motherboard" of a computer. The CPU is the part of the computer that carries out most of the functions required by a program. Nowadays you can get CPUs in everything from cars to telephones.

28. Karen Carpenter's instrument DRUMS
Karen Carpenter was an accomplished drummer, although she only started playing drums in high school, as a member of the school band. After she graduated she started playing jazz with her brother, Richard, and a college friend. Later, she and Richard played with a group called Spectrum, and submitted many demo tapes to recording companies, but all were unsuccessful. Finally, Karen and Richard got a recording contract with A&M Records, and when they had Karen take the lead on their songs, they hit the big time and toured as the Carpenters. Sadly, Karen passed away at only 32-years-old, dying from heart failure brought on by anorexia.

34. Prom partner DATE
A prom is a formal dance held upon graduation from high school (we call them "formals" over in Ireland). The term "prom" is short for "promenade", the name given to a type of dance or ball.

35. Fallopian tube traveler OVUM
The Fallopian tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals in the uterus. The tubes are named for the 16th-century Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio, who was the first to describe them.

37. Drink on credit RUN A TAB
When we “run a tab” at a bar say, we are “running a tabulation”, a listing of what we owe. Such a use of “tab” is American slang that originated in the 1880s.

39. Multi-platinum Steely Dan album AJA
Steely Dan's heyday was in the seventies when they toured for a couple of years, although the group mainly focused on studio work. The band was formed in 1972 and broke up in 1981. The core of the band reunited in 1993 and they are still going strong today. Steely Dan’s best-selling album is “Aja”, released in 1977.

44. Viral Internet phenomenon MEME
A "meme" (short for "mineme") is a cultural practice or idea that is passed on verbally or by repetition from one person to another. The term lends itself very well to the online world where links, emails, files etc. are so easily propagated.

45. Two-horse wager EXACTA
To win a bet called an exacta (also called a “perfecta”), the person betting must name the horses that finish first and second, and in the exact order. The related bet called the trifecta requires naming of the first, second and third-place finishers in the right order.

51. Yemeni port ADEN
Aden is a seaport in Yemen, 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.

52. Capital near Zurich BERN
Bern (also “Berne”) is the capital of Switzerland. The official language of the city is German, but the language most spoken in Bern is a dialect known as Bernese German.

56. Tech giant IBM
IBM was founded as the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896. The company changed its name to the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR) in 1911 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1916. The name of International Business Machines (IBM) was given first to the company's Canadian subsidiary, and then its South American subsidiary. In 1924, it was decided to adopt the International Business Machines name for the whole company. Good choice ...

57. Cube that rolls DIE
The numbers on dice are arranged so that the opposite faces add up to seven. Given this arrangement, the numbers 1, 2 and 3 all meet at a common vertex. There are two ways of arranging the 1, 2 and 3 around the common vertex, a so called right-handed die (clockwise 1-2-3) or a left-handed die (counterclockwise 1-2-3). Traditionally, dice used in Western cultures are right-handed, whereas Chinese dice are left-handed. Quite interesting ...

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Vanna's cohort PAT
4. Smidgens IOTAS
9. Thicket COPSE
14. Boston Marathon mo. APR
15. Meat and greet patio party? BAR-B-Q
16. Skylit courtyards ATRIA
17. Yes, to a cowboy? YOU BET YOUR BOOTS
20. Sunday service providers CLERGY
21. Switz. neighbor AUS
22. Pollen carrier BEE
23. "M*A*S*H" Emmy winner for acting, writing and directing ALDA
24. German autos BMWS
26. Women's undergarment, briefly CAMI
27. Yes, to an architect? SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN
31. __ joint HIP
32. Cracker with a scalloped edge RITZ
33. [uh-oh] GULP
34. Provides with a soundtrack DUBS
35. Components of many tips ONES
37. Give in to wanderlust ROAM
39. Shakespeare's river AVON
40. Stockholm carrier SAS
43. Yes, to a traffic court judge? SUITS ME JUST FINE
47. Author Rice ANNE
48. Final, e.g. EXAM
49. Medicine Hat's prov. ALTA
50. Shoot the breeze YAK
51. Org. for docs AMA
52. Exited quickly, in slang BAILED
54. Yes, to the Magic 8 Ball IT IS DECIDEDLY SO
58. "Divine Comedy" poet DANTE
59. "Fun, Fun, Fun" car in 1960s hit T-BIRD
60. Make faces for the camera MUG
61. Labor day doc OB/GYN
62. Church chorus AMENS
63. Mini-albums, briefly EPS

Down
1. Choose paper over plastic? PAY CASH
2. Ill-fated 1967 moon mission APOLLO I
3. Made even, to a carpenter TRUED UP
4. "__ your pardon" I BEG
5. Cheerios descriptor OATY
6. "Give it a go" TRY
7. Blood-typing letters ABO
8. Kick up a fuss SQUAWK
9. Uber competitors CABS
10. Platte River tribe OTO
11. The majors PRO BALL
12. Online guide SITE MAP
13. Enter gradually EASE IN
18. Muffin mix additive BRAN
19. Con job RUSE
24. Orders with mayo BLTS
25. "Les __": musical nickname MIZ
26. PCs'"brains" CPUS
28. Karen Carpenter's instrument DRUMS
29. Member of the fam SIB
30. One who helps you find a part? AGENT
34. Prom partner DATE
35. Fallopian tube traveler OVUM
36. Rejections NOS
37. Drink on credit RUN A TAB
38. Noise from a 55-Down OINKING
39. Multi-platinum Steely Dan album AJA
40. "I was so foolish!" SILLY ME!
41. Pays for cards ANTES UP
42. Old salts SEA DOGS
43. Get hitched SAY “I DO”
44. Viral Internet phenomenon MEME
45. Two-horse wager EXACTA
46. Go up in smoke FAIL
51. Yemeni port ADEN
52. Capital near Zurich BERN
53. Supplements, with "to" ADDS
55. Type of pen STY
56. Tech giant IBM
57. Cube that rolls DIE


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
7. Brief amt. of time NSEC
“Nanosecond” is more correctly abbreviated to "ns", and really is a tiny amount of time: one billionth of a second.

11. Karaoke need, briefly MIC
Microphone (mic)

In Japanese, "karate", means "open hand", and the related word "karaoke" means "open orchestra".

17. Parody involving molten rock? LAVA LAMPOON (from “lava lamp”)
The lava lamp was invented in 1960 by a British man, Edward Craven-Walker. The “lava” is a mixture of wax and carbon tetrachloride, floating in a water/glycerol mix. The wax reduces in density as it picks up heat from the incandescent bulb in the lamp’s base. The wax rises, cools, and then sinks to the bottom of the liquid only to be heated again.

20. APA member?: Abbr. ASSN
American Psychiatric Association (APA)

21. Med. test EKG
An EKG measures electrical activity in the heart. Back in my homeland of Ireland, an EKG is known as an ECG (for electrocardiogram). We use the German name in the US, Elektrokardiogramm, giving us EKG. Apparently the abbreviation EKG is preferred as ECG might be confused (if poorly handwritten, I guess) with EEG, the abbreviation for an electroencephalogram.

22. Eight-time co-star of Joan Crawford GABLE
The actress that Clark Gable made the most films with was Joan Crawford. The eight Gable/Crawford movies are:

- “Dance, Fools, Dance” (1931)
- “Laughing Sinners” (1931)
- “Possessed” (1931)
- “Dancing Lady” (1933)
- “Chained” (1934)
- “Forsaking All Others” (1934)
- “Love on the Run” (1936)
- “Strange Cargo” (1940)

28. Wind god's whaling weapon? AEOLIAN HARPOON (from “aeolian harp”)
Aeolus was the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology, and he gave his name to the adjective "aeolian" (also “aeolic, eolic”) meaning "windblown", something produced or carried by the wind. For example, an aeolian harp is a fascinating instrument; a box with a sounding board and strings that is "played" by the wind as it blows.

35. Arctic flier SKUA
Skuas are a group of about seven species of seabird. Some of these species are known as jaegers in the Americas. The skua takes its name from the island of Skúvoy in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic. The name “jaeger” comes from the German word for “hunter”.

37. Honor earned by 27 Super Bowl QBs MVP
Two players have won three Super Bowl MVP awards: Joe Montana and Tom Brady.

41. Scoreboard fig. PTS
Points (pts.)

42. Director Preminger OTTO
Otto Preminger was noted for his films that pushed the envelope in terms of subject matter, at least in the fifties and sixties. Great examples would be 1955's "The Man with the Golden Arm" that dealt with drug addiction, 1959's "Anatomy of a Murder" that dealt with rape, and 1962's "Advise and Consent" that dealt with homosexuality. If you've seen these films, you'll have noticed that the references are somewhat indirect and disguised, in order to get past the censors.

44. It borders It. AUS
The name “Austria” is a Latin variant of the German name for the country, “Österreich”. “Österreich” itself means “Eastern borderlands”, a reference to the country’s history as a prefecture of neighboring Bavaria to the west.

46. Sparkling wit ESPRIT
Our word “esprit”, meaning “liveliness of mind”, comes to us from Latin via French. The Latin “spiritus” means “spirit.

48. Blubbering Belgian? WAILING WALLOON (from “Wailing Wall”)
The Walloons are an ethnic group living in Belgium, mainly in the region known as Wallonia. The Walloons are French-speaking today, although there is also a related Walloon language.

51. 8th-century Japanese capital NARA
The Japanese city of Nara, located not far from Kyoto, was the nation's capital from 710 to 784 CE.

55. June portrayer in "Henry & June"UMA
The 1990 movie "Henry & June" is loosely adapted from the book of the same name by Anaïs Nin. The book is based on diaries written by Nin telling of her part in a love triangle with American author Henry Miller and his wife June. June Miller was played by Uma Thurman in the movie.

60. First name in shipping ARI
Aristotle Onassis was born to a successful Greek shipping entrepreneur in Smyrna in modern-day Turkey. However, his family lost its fortune during WWI and so Aristotle worked with his father to build up a new business empire centered on the importation of tobacco. In 1957, Aristotle founded the Greek national airline, what is today called Olympic Air, and he also got into the business of shipping oil around the world. He married Athina Livanos in 1946, the daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate. They couple had two children together, with one being the famous Christina Onassis. Livanos divorced Onassis on discovering him in bed with the opera singer Maria Callas. Onassis ended his affair with Callas in order to marry Jackie Kennedy in 1968.

61. Hollywood harlequin? FILM BUFFOON (from “film buff”)
A “buff” or a “nut” is one who is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a subject. For example, one might be a movie buff, or perhaps a baseball nut.

65. Java JOE
It seems that no one really knows why we refer to coffee as "joe", but we've been doing so since early in WWII.

Back in 1850, the name "java" was given to a type of coffee grown on the island of Java, and the usage of the term spread from there.

66. Eclectic quarterly digest UTNE
The "Utne Reader" is known for aggregation and republishing of articles on politics, culture and the environment from other sources in the media. The "Utne Reader" was founded in 1984, with "Utne" being the family name of the couple that started the publication. The magazine uses the slogan “Cure Ignorance”.

68. Animal in some fables ASS
In Aesop’s fable “The Old Lion”, an old lion lay dying in the mouth of a cave, when the animals he had hunted drew around him. A boar, bull and ass attacked the lion, as they felt free from danger. The moral illustrated by the fable is that it is cowardly to attack the defenseless, even though they may be the enemy.

69. He says to Cordelia, "Thy truth, then, be thy dower"LEAR
“King Lear” is one of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. Lear’s three daughters figure prominently in the storyline. The three are, in order of age:

- Goneril
- Regan
- Cordelia

70. Cerebral __ CORTEX
The outermost layer of an organ is known as the cortex. The cortical layer that is most familiar to the man on the street (like me!) is that of the brain, i.e. the cerebral cortex.

Down
1. __ breve ALLA
The musical term “alla breve”, meaning “at the breve (i.e. the note)”, denotes a meter equivalent to 2/2. This implies quite a fast tempo, one often found in military marches.

3. Home team at Cleveland's "The Q"CAVS
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1970. The team plays at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland, a facility that the locals refer to as “the Q”.

5. Mph VEL
Velocity (vel.)

6. Former PBS host LeShan EDA
Eda LeShan wrote "When Your Child Drives You Crazy", and was host of the PBS television show "How Do Your Children Grow?"

9. 1940s stage for Ike ETO
General Dwight D. Eisenhower (“Ike”) was in command of the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during WWII.

10. __ eel CONGER
Conger eels can grow to be very, very large, perhaps up to 10 feet in length.

11. Apple with a Force Touch trackpad MACBOOK PRO
The MacBook Pro is the high-end model in Apple’s MacBook family of portable computers.

18. Physical leader? META-
The word "metaphysics" comes from the Greek "meta" (beyond) and "physika" (physical), and is a branch of philosophy that investigates reality beyond the principles of science. Not something I would understand ...

23. Gear on stage AMPS
An electric guitar, for example, needs an amplifier (amp) to take the weak signal created by the vibration of the strings and turn it into a signal powerful enough for a loudspeaker.

25. Kind of tchr. ELEM
A teacher (tchr.) might work in an elementary (elem.) school.

26. Buddhist state NIRVANA
Nirvana is a philosophical concept in some Indian-based religions. In the Buddhist tradition, nirvana is the state of being free from suffering i.e. not experiencing craving, anger or other afflicting states.

27. Klinger's first name on "M*A*S*H"MAXWELL
Actor Jamie Farr is best known for playing the cross-dressing Max Klinger in the sitcom ”M*A*S*H”. Although Farr landed a role in the 1955 movie “Blackboard Jungle”, his career didn’t really take off until he started appearing regularly on “The Red Skelton Show”. Years later he managed to get a one-episode appearance in ”M*A*S*H”, and his character and performance were received so well that he became a regular on the show. Farr actually did serve in the US Army in Korea, although it was after hostilities had ended. The dog tags that Farr wore when filming ”M*A*S*H” were the one's he actually wore while serving in the military.

28. Vital supply line AORTA
The aorta originates in the heart and extends down into the abdomen. It is the largest artery in the body.

29. Where to find Java EAST INDIES
The exact definition of “East Indies” can vary. In its most general sense the term can describe all the lands of South and Southeast Asia. More specifically, the East Indies can refer to just the islands of Southeast Asia. The colonial influence in the area is reflected in the names of the regions within the East Indies, e.g. the British East Indies (Malaysia), the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and Spanish East Indies (the Philippines). The use of the word “Indies” is a reference to the Indus River.

32. Democratic donkey drawer NAST
Thomas Nast was an American caricaturist and cartoonist. Nast was the creator of the Republican Party elephant, the Democratic Party donkey, Uncle Sam and the image of the plump and jocular Santa Claus that we use today. Thomas Nast drew some famous cartoons in which he depicted the Tammany Society as a vicious tiger that was killing democracy. Nast’s use of the tiger symbology caught on and was used by other cartoonists to harp at the society.

38. Wrinkly little dog PUG
The pug is a breed of dog of Chinese origin. Our current family pet is a boxer/pug cross, a good-looking mutt!

40. __ Royale, Michigan ISLE
Isle Royale in Michigan is the largest island in Lake Superior. The main island, along with over 400 smaller surrounding islands, is now part of Isle Royale National Park.

43. Skin care brand OLAY
Oil of Olay was developed in South Africa in 1949. When Oil of Olay was introduced internationally, it was given slightly different brand names designed to appeal in the different geographies. In Ireland we know it as Oil of Ulay, for example, and in France it is Oil of Olaz.

53. Indian noble RAJA
“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.

54. Love deity EROS
Eros, the Greek god of love, was also known as Amor.

55. Forearm bone ULNA
The radius and ulna are bones in the forearm. If you hold the palm of your hand up in front of you, the radius is the bone on the "thumb-side" of the arm, and the ulna is the bone on the "pinkie-side".

57. Egyptian Christian COPT
The Copts make up the largest minority religious group in Egypt. Copts are Christians, with most adhered to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and others practicing Coptic Catholicism or Coptic Protestantism. The term “Copt” ultimately derives from a Greek word for Egyptian.

58. "The thing with feathers / That perches in the soul": Dickinson HOPE
Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1800 poems in her lifetime, with less than a dozen published before she died in 1886. Emily's younger sister discovered the enormous collection, and it was published in batches over the coming decades. Here is the first verse of one of her poems:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

59. Cameo stone ONYX
Onyx is a form of banded quartz that comes in many different shades, but most often it's the black version that's used for jewelry. The name "onyx" comes from the Greek word for "fingernail", as onyx in the flesh color is said to resemble a fingernail.

“Cameo” is a method of carving, often the carving of a gemstone or a piece of jewelry. The resulting image is in relief (sits proud of the background), whereas an engraved image would be produced by the similar carving method known as intaglio. Nowadays, the term cameo is used for any piece of oval-shaped jewelry that contains the image of a head, usually in profile (maybe even a photograph).

63. The Trojans of the Pac-12 USC
The athletic teams of the University of Southern California are called the USC Trojans. The women’s teams are also called the Trojans, but are sometimes referred to as Women of Troy.

64. "Alice" spinoff FLO
Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry is a waitress in the sitcom "Alice" that originally aired on CBS in the 70s and 80s. Flo got her own sitcom (called “Flo”) which had a brief run in the early 80s. I saw a few episodes of “Alice”, but that's about it. Oh, and Flo was played by Polly Holliday.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Library recess ALCOVE
7. Brief amt. of time NSEC
11. Karaoke need, briefly MIC
14. Slanted LEANED
15. With 34-Across, concert band instrument ALTO ...
16. Big fuss ADO
17. Parody involving molten rock? LAVA LAMPOON (from “lava lamp”)
19. Sneaky job CON
20. APA member?: Abbr. ASSN
21. Med. test EKG
22. Eight-time co-star of Joan Crawford GABLE
24. Teeth: Pref. DENTI-
27. Note MEMO
28. Wind god's whaling weapon? AEOLIAN HARPOON (from “aeolian harp”)
33. Crybaby MOANER
34. See 15-Across … SAX
35. Arctic flier SKUA
36. Stalling-for-time syllables ERS
37. Honor earned by 27 Super Bowl QBs MVP
39. Light lead-in TWI-
41. Scoreboard fig. PTS
42. Director Preminger OTTO
44. It borders It. AUS
46. Sparkling wit ESPRIT
48. Blubbering Belgian? WAILING WALLOON (from “Wailing Wall”)
51. 8th-century Japanese capital NARA
52. Runs while standing IDLES
53. Try a new color on REDYE
55. June portrayer in "Henry & June" UMA
56. Repeat, but more softly each time ECHO
60. First name in shipping ARI
61. Hollywood harlequin? FILM BUFFOON (from “film buff”)
65. Java JOE
66. Eclectic quarterly digest UTNE
67. Hard to read, maybe SLOPPY
68. Animal in some fables ASS
69. He says to Cordelia, "Thy truth, then, be thy dower" LEAR
70. Cerebral __ CORTEX

Down
1. __ breve ALLA
2. Pastures LEAS
3. Home team at Cleveland's "The Q" CAVS
4. Uninterrupted ON AND ON
5. Mph VEL
6. Former PBS host LeShan EDA
7. Place setting items NAPKINS
8. Tough march SLOG
9. 1940s stage for Ike ETO
10. __ eel CONGER
11. Apple with a Force Touch trackpad MACBOOK PRO
12. Fan club focus IDOL
13. Lane-closing sight CONE
18. Physical leader? META-
23. Gear on stage AMPS
25. Kind of tchr. ELEM
26. Buddhist state NIRVANA
27. Klinger's first name on "M*A*S*H" MAXWELL
28. Vital supply line AORTA
29. Where to find Java EAST INDIES
30. Magic show prop HAT
31. __ the cold OUT IN
32. Democratic donkey drawer NAST
33. Litter cry MEOW!
38. Wrinkly little dog PUG
40. __ Royale, Michigan ISLE
43. Skin care brand OLAY
45. Pool party? SWIMMER
47. Be the subject of, as a painting POSE FOR
49. Furious IREFUL
50. Not much at all A DAB
53. Indian noble RAJA
54. Love deity EROS
55. Forearm bone ULNA
57. Egyptian Christian COPT
58. "The thing with feathers / That perches in the soul": Dickinson HOPE
59. Cameo stone ONYX
62. Suburban trailer? -ITE
63. The Trojans of the Pac-12 USC
64. "Alice" spinoff FLO


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Pâtisserie cake GATEAU
In French, “gâteau” is “cake”.

A patisserie is a French bakery that sells pastries, or "tartes".

16. Taps, essentially HORN SOLO
"Taps" is played nightly by the US military, indicating "lights out". It's also known as "Butterfield's Lullaby" as it is a variation of an older bugle call named the "Scott Tattoo", arranged during the Civil War by the Union Army's Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield. The tune is called "taps", from the notion of drum taps, as it was originally played on a drum, and only later on a bugle. The whole tune comprises just 24 notes, with there only being four different notes within the 24, i.e. “low G”, C, E and “high G”. Minimalism at its best ...

19. Pound denizen MUTT
The original use of the term “mutt” was for a foolish person, and was probably short for “muttonhead”. The usage evolved into today’s “mongrel dog”.

20. Biblical birthright seller ESAU
Esau was the twin brother of Jacob, the founder of the Israelites. When their mother Rebekah gave birth to the twins "the first emerged red and hairy all over (Esau), with his heel grasped by the hand of the second to come out (Jacob)". As Esau was the first born, he was entitled to inherit his father's wealth (it was his "birthright"). Instead, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for the price of a "mess of pottage" (a meal of lentils).

21. Oldest of the gods, in Plato's "Symposium"EROS
The Greek philosopher Plato wrote a philosophical treatise on the nature of love called “Symposium”. “Symposium” is the source of the contemporary phrase “Platonic love”.

35. Game winner OOO
When I was growing up in Ireland we played "noughts and crosses" ... our name for the game tic-tac-toe.

39. Minuteman, e.g. LONG-RANGE MISSILE
There are still hundreds Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) in service, with most of them dotted around the landscape of the plain states. I was driving through the area a couple of years ago and counted five missile silos and two launch control centers, just sitting there, at the side of the road.

43. "The Soul of a Butterfly" memoirist ALI
“The Soul of a Butterfly” is a 2004 autobiography of former heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali.

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. was born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he converted to Islam in 1964. Who can forget Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic flame for the 1996 games in Atlanta? Ali was presented with a gold medal during those '96 Games, a replacement for the medal he won at the 1960 Olympics. He had thrown the original into the Ohio River as a gesture of disgust after being refused service at a "whites only" restaurant.

44. Essen article DER
The definite article in German is “der”, “die” or “das”, for masculine, feminine and neuter nouns. The indefinite article is “ein”, “eine” or “ein”, again depending on the gender of the noun. A further complication, relative to English, is that the masculine form (and only the masculine form) of the article changes when used in the accusative case, when used with the object of a sentence. The accusative forms are “den” and “einen”.

Essen is a large industrial city located on the River Ruhr in western Germany.

46. First 12 children of Gaia and Uranus TITANS
The Titans were a group of twelve older deities in Greek mythology, the first twelve children of Mother Earth (Gaia) and Father Sky (Uranus). In the celebrated Battle of the Titans, they were overthrown by the Olympians, who were twelve younger gods.

58. Chanel No. 1? COCO
Coco Chanel was a French fashion designer. Perhaps because I am a man, clothes design is not my forte. However, if I had to pick a designer whose clothes I really liked, it would be Chanel. She had a way of creating simpler designs that looked so elegant on a woman.

59. Columnist Barrett RONA
Rona Barrett is a gossip columnist originally from New York City but who plies her trade in Southern California. Barrett started out as with a gossip column that was syndicated in newspapers but then made a successful transition to television. She made regular appearances in news broadcasts and on her entertainment shows in the sixties and seventies.

60. Sir Edward Elgar composition whose title has never been solved ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles ENIGMA VARIATIONS
Edward Elgar’s famous “Enigma Variations” are more correctly titled “Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra (“Enigma”)”. There are fourteen variations in the piece, with each named for one of Elgar’s close friends, a family member, and there is even one named for Elgar himself. Each variation is an affectionate portrayal of the person for which it is named. The “enigma” in the piece is quite a mystery. It is not even clear that the variations are based on a musical theme. Elgar’s notes tell us that the theme is “not played”, but he would never explain during his lifetime just what “the enigma” is.

66. Conventioneer with antennae, perhaps TREKKIE
Fans of “Star Trek” refer to themselves as “trekkies”.

68. "Honor Thy Father" author TALESE
Gay Talese is an American author, famous as a journalist in the sixties at "The New York Times". His 1981 book "Thy Neighbor’s Wife" is a study of sexuality in America in the early fifties. Apparently, as research for the book, Talese had sexual relations with his own neighbor’s wife for several months at a sexuality resort in Southern California called Sandstone Retreat.

Gay Talese’s 1971 book "Honor Thy Father" is about the Bonanno crime family of New York City in 1960s.

Down
3. Design for some MacDonalds TARTAN
Tartan is sometimes called "plaid" over here in the US, a word not used in the same sense outside of this country. In Scotland a "plaid" is a blanket or a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder.

5. Its slot always pays ATM
ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)

6. Winner of all three tug-of-war medals in the 1904 Olympics: Abbr. USA
Tug of war is a strength competition between two teams who pull on opposite ends of a rope, vying to pull the opponents over a marked line. The sport was an event in the Summer Olympic Games from 1900 until 1920. The USA teams won all three medals for the tug of war at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis.

8. Journalist son of Mia Farrow RONAN
Ronan Farrow is a former US government advisor in the Obama administration who now hosts “Ronan Farrow Daily” on MSNBC. Farrow is the son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen. Ronan is estranged from his father, ever since Allen started a relationship with Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, who is now Allen’s wife.

11. Carlisle Cullen's wife in the "Twilight" series ESME
I don't do vampires. The reference, is to a character in "The Twilight" series of books by Stephenie Meyer. "The Twilight Saga" is a series of films based on the books.

15. Places to clean and press GYMS
Our word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek “gymnasion” meaning “public place where exercise is taken”. The Greek term comes from “gymnos” meaning "naked", as that physical training was usually done unclothed.

18. Powder room containers KEGS
Gunpowder is the earliest known explosive chemical. Also called “black powder”, it is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal and saltpeter (i.e. potassium nitrate). The saltpeter is a powerful oxidizing agent, providing the oxygen to burn the sulfur and charcoal, which acts as the fuel in the mixture. Gunpowder was invented by the chinese in 8th century.

24. Online finance company E-LOAN
E-Loan used to be based just down the road from me in the San Francisco Bay Area, but after takeover by a Rosemont, Illinois company it was moved to the parent's headquarters. E-Loan was founded in 1997 to provide customers access to mortgages over the Internet.

25. Hard-to-miss signs NEONS
The basic design of neon lighting was first demonstrated at the Paris Motor Show in 1910. Such lighting is made up of glass tubes containing a vacuum into which has been introduced a small amount of neon gas. When a voltage is applied between two electrodes inside the tube, the neon gas “glows” and gives off the familiar light.

27. Trig function COSINE
The most familiar trigonometric functions are sine (sin), cosine (cos) and tangent (tan). Each of these is a ratio, a ratio of two sides of a right-angled triangle. The reciprocal of these three functions are cosecant, secant, and cotangent. The reciprocal functions are simply the inverted ratios, the inverted sine (cosec = 1/sin), cosine (sec = 1/cos) and tangent (cot = 1/tan).

28. Hosp. personnel RNS
Registered nurses (RNs) are licensed medical (med.) personnel.

30. Noah of "The Librarian" TV films WYLE
Noah Wyle is an actor noted for playing Dr. John Truman Carter III on television’s “ER”. He was highly valued by the show’s producers, earning about $400,000 per episode in 2005, a world record for an actor in a TV drama at that time.

“The Librarian” is a series of fantasy TV movies starring Noah Wyle as “the Librarian”, an employee at the Metropolitan Public Library who is charged with the protection of a collection of exotic and magical objects, including the Ark of the Covenant, Pandora’s Box and Excalibur.

32. Reichenbach Falls setting ALPS
The Aar (also called the "Aare" in German) is the longest river entirely in Switzerland. A famous spot along the Aar is the Reichenbach Falls in the center of the country, actually a series of waterfalls near the city of Meiringen. These falls are renowned in the world of literature as it was here that Sherlock Holmes fell to his supposed doom with his nemesis Professor Moriarty (in "The Adventure of the Final Problem").

37. Stradivari's tutor AMATI
The first of the Amati family to make violins was Andrea Amati, who lived in the 14th century. He was succeeded by his sons, Antonio and Girolamo. In turn, they were succeeded by Girolamo's son, Nicolo. Nicolo had a few students who achieved fame making musical instruments as well. One was his own son, Girolamo, and another was the famed Antonio Stradivari.

38. Lombardy's capital MILAN
There are twenty administrative regions of Italy, one of which is Lombardy. Lombardy is in the very north of the country, and its capital is the city of Milan.

40. Co. merged into Verizon GTE
GTE (formerly “General Telephone & Electric”) was a rival to AT&T, the largest of the independent competitors to the Bell System. GTE merged with Bell Atlantic in 2000 to form the company that we know today as Verizon.

47. Composer Stravinsky IGOR
The composer Igor Stravinsky's most famous works were completed relatively early in his career, when he was quite young. His three ballets "The Firebird", "Petrushka" and "The Rite of Spring" were published in 1910-1913, when Stravinsky was in his early thirties.

49. Caesarean section? I CAME
The oft-quoted statement "Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered") is believed by many to have been written by Julius Caesar. The words date back to 47 BC and refer to the short war between Rome and Pharnaces II of Pontus.

50. Mayflower figure MOVER
Mayflower Transit is a moving and storage company that was founded in 1927 in Indianapolis, but is now based in Fenton, Missouri.

51. Errant golf shots HOOKS
In golf, an errant driver might slice or hook the ball.

52. Musical with "jr." and "KIDS" versions for young performers ANNIE
The Broadway musical “Annie” is produced in more than one version. There is an “Annie Jr.” that has been edited down to a shortened version more suitable for young performers and audiences. An even shorter version that lasts only 30 minutes is called “Annie KIDS”, and is meant for performers still in elementary school.

53. Shock, in a way TASE
Victor Appleton wrote a novel for young adults called "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle". The company that developed the TASER electroshock weapon named its product as a homage to the novel. The acronym TASER stands for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle".

54. Church lineups PEWS
A pew is a bench in a church, usually with a high back. The original pews were raised and sometimes enclosed seats in the church used by women and important men or families. “Pew” comes from the Old French “puie” meaning “balcony, elevation”.

55. Gross subj.? ANAT
Anatomy (anat.)

56. Capital of Turkey LIRA
The currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira, which is divided into 100 kuruş.

57. Like French toast EGGY
The dish made from bread soaked in milk with beaten eggs and then fried is usually called French toast in the US, but it also goes by the names German toast and Spanish toast. In France, the dish is known as “pain perdu”, which translates as “lost bread”. This name is a reference to the fact that “lost” or stale bread can be reclaimed by dipping it in a mixture of milk and eggs and then frying it.

61. __-jongg MAH
"Mahjong" (also “mahjongg” and “mah-jongg”) is the Chinese word for "sparrow". Mahjong is a game that originated in China, and is usually played by four players. There is a myth that the game was developed by the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. The myth also suggests that Confucius was fond of birds, and hence chose the name "sparrow".

62. Addams family member 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.

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're altogether ooky,
The Addams Family.

63. Altar constellation ARA
The constellation of Ara takes its name from the Latin word for "altar".

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Pâtisserie cake GATEAU
7. Sold for, as a stock TRADED AT
15. Derby racers GO-CARTS
16. Taps, essentially HORN SOLO
17. Reprimand to one not picking up YOU’RE MAKING A MESS
19. Pound denizen MUTT
20. Biblical birthright seller ESAU
21. Oldest of the gods, in Plato's "Symposium" EROS
22. Rail transport landmark STEAM ENGINE
26. At a minimum NO LESS
27. Swimmer's option CRAWL
32. Invite ASK
35. Game winner OOO
36. Lunch order HAM ON RYE
39. Minuteman, e.g. LONG-RANGE MISSILE
42. Smoke and mirrors PRETENSE
43. "The Soul of a Butterfly" memoirist ALI
44. Essen article DER
45. Concluded, with "up" SEWED
46. First 12 children of Gaia and Uranus TITANS
49. "How surprising!" IMAGINE THAT!
54. Light, colorwise PALE
58. Chanel No. 1? COCO
59. Columnist Barrett RONA
60. Sir Edward Elgar composition whose title has never been solved ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles ENIGMA VARIATIONS
65. Exercises displaying great strength WAR GAMES
66. Conventioneer with antennae, perhaps TREKKIE
67. "Don't budge!" STAY HERE!
68. "Honor Thy Father" author TALESE

Down
1. Exit GO OUT
2. Intense ACUTE
3. Design for some MacDonalds TARTAN
4. Poetic "previous to" ERE
5. Its slot always pays ATM
6. Winner of all three tug-of-war medals in the 1904 Olympics: Abbr. USA
7. Formal phone call response THIS IS HE
8. Journalist son of Mia Farrow RONAN
9. Debate ARGUE
10. Some evidence DNA
11. Carlisle Cullen's wife in the "Twilight" series ESME
12. Evil follower? -DOER
13. And ALSO
14. Word with coin or ring TOSS
15. Places to clean and press GYMS
18. Powder room containers KEGS
23. Tied up MOORED
24. Online finance company E-LOAN
25. Hard-to-miss signs NEONS
27. Trig function COSINE
28. Hosp. personnel RNS
29. Like much of Australia's interior ARID
30. Noah of "The Librarian" TV films WYLE
31. Look wrong? LEER
32. Reichenbach Falls setting ALPS
33. Teed off SORE
34. "I __ it!" KNEW
37. Stradivari's tutor AMATI
38. Lombardy's capital MILAN
40. Co. merged into Verizon GTE
41. Start one's law practice GET A CASE
47. Composer Stravinsky IGOR
48. Hit STRIKE
49. Caesarean section? I CAME
50. Mayflower figure MOVER
51. Errant golf shots HOOKS
52. Musical with "jr." and "KIDS" versions for young performers ANNIE
53. Shock, in a way TASE
54. Church lineups PEWS
55. Gross subj.? ANAT
56. Capital of Turkey LIRA
57. Like French toast EGGY
61. __-jongg MAH
62. Addams family member ITT
63. Altar constellation ARA
64. Part of 40-Down: Abbr. TEL


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Law school accrediting org. ABA
The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded back in 1878 and is a voluntary association for lawyers and law students. The ABA focuses on setting academic standards for law schools and setting ethical codes for the profession.

4. Current information source TWITTER FEED
I have never tweeted in my life, and have no plans to do so (but one should never say “never”). Twitter is a microblogging service that limits any post sent to just 140 characters. In a sense, it is similar to this blog. Here I send out a post once a day containing information that I think might be useful to folks (thank you for reading!). I don't think I could send out much of interest using just 140 characters.

15. Like many a Beverly Hills partygoer FASHIONABLY LATE
The city of Beverly Hills, California was named after Beverly Farms in Beverly, Massachusetts and also after the hills in that part of California.

18. Former seniors ALUMS
An "alumnus" (plural ... alumni) is a graduate or former student of a school or college. The female form is "alumna" (plural ... alumnae). The term comes into English from Latin, in which alumnus means foster-son or pupil. “Alum” is an informal term used for either an alumna or an alumnus.

19. Points for a piano tuner? TINES
Those would be the tines on a tuning fork …

20. "Murder in the First" airer TNT
TNT stands for Turner Network Television. The TNT cable channel made a big splash in the eighties when it started to broadcast old MGM movies that had been "colorized", not something that was a big hit with the public. In recent years, the TNT programming lineup is touted with the tagline "We Know Drama", and includes shows like "Judging Amy", "ER" and "Cold Case".

21. Crossword legend Reagle MERL
Merl Reagle was a renowned constructor of puzzles in crossword circles. Despite the availability of computer tools Reagle was known for constructing puzzles using pencil and paper. There is an interesting segment in the 2006 movie “ Wordplay” in which we see Reagle in action creating a puzzle for the New York Times. Reagle even made an appearance in a 2008 episode of “The Simpsons”.

23. "Hogan's Heroes" setting, briefly WWII
“Hogan’s Heroes” is a sitcom that ran in the late sixties and early seventies. The show starred Bob Crane as the ranking prisoner in a German POW camp during WWII. The four major German roles were played by actors who all were Jewish, and who all fled from the Nazis during the war. The French-American actor Robert Clary, who played Corporal Lebeau, spent three in concentration camps before being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945.

25. Zen teaching techniques KOANS
The concept of the “koan” appears in the Zen Buddhist tradition. A koan is a story, question or perhaps a statement that is used as an aid to meditation. It often takes the form of a problem or riddle that has no logical solution and is intended to help the meditator break free of reason and develop intuition.

27. Zsa Zsa's older sister MAGDA
Magda Gabor was the elder sister of Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor. Like her sisters, Magda was an actress and socialite. Magda married six times in all. Her most famous husband was probably the fifth, the English actor George Sanders, although that only lasted for 32 days. Sanders had been married to Magda's younger sister Zsa Zsa.

Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian American actress, born in Budapest as Sári Gábor (the older sister of the actress Eva). Zsa Zsa Gabor has been married a whopping nine times, including a 5-year stint with Conrad Hilton and another 5 years with the actor George Sanders. One of Gabor's famous quips was that she was always a good housekeeper, as after every divorce she kept the house!

33. Sea BRINY
The “briny” is the sea, from “brine” meaning “salty water”. The term “briny” was originally used for “tears”.

35. Mirren of "The Hundred-Foot Journey"HELEN
Helen Mirren, one of my favorite English actresses, won her Best Actress Oscar for playing the title role in the marvelous 2006 film “The Queen”. Mirren has played three different queens on film and television including Queen Elizabeth II. She also played the title role in the TV drama “Elizabeth I”, and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of the title character in the 1994 film “The Madness of King George”.

“The Hundred-Foot Journey" is an excellent 2014 film based on a 2010 novel of the same name by Richard Morais. It tells the story of a feud between two restaurants in a town in France that are located across the road from each other, just one hundred feet apart. One is a Michelin-starred French restaurant, and the other an establishment serving Indian cuisine. “The Hundred-Foot Journey” was produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.

36. Thugs GOONS
The handheld weapon known as a garrote (or garotte) was in particular used by murderers and robbers harassing travelers in India. These felons were known locally as "thuggees" (from the Hindi word for "thief"). This gave us our contemporary word "thug", meaning a brute.

37. BART stop SFO
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) serves as the main base of operations for Virgin America, and is also the maintenance hub for United Airlines.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) serves the San Francisco Bay Area.

42. Dutch word meaning "farmer"BOER
“Boer” is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for "farmer", a word that was used to describe the Dutch-speaking people who settled parts of South Africa during the 1700s.

43. Triple Crown stat RBI
In Major League baseball, a player can earn the Triple Crown when he is the leader in three specific statistics. The pitching Triple Crown includes wins, strikeouts and earned run average (ERA). The batting Triple Crown includes home runs, runs batted in (RBI) and batting average.

44. "Tequila Sunrise" writer/director Robert TOWNE
“Tequila Sunrise” is a 1988 thriller starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell. Gibson plays a former drug dealer and Russell plays a police detective who is also a childhood friend.

46. Bird named for its large-scale migrations PASSENGER PIGEON
The passenger pigeon was a bird native to North America that is now extinct. The name “passenger” comes from the French “passager”, a word meaning “passing by”. This is a reference to the large flocks that could be seen migrating across the whole continent. The passenger pigeon was largely hunted to extinction.

50. Time for fluff pieces SLOW NEWS DAY
A “fluff piece” (also “puff piece”) is a news story that is considered unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Fluff pieces tend to be chosen for their cuteness, rather than their import.

51. Soapmaker's supply LYE
Soap is basically made by adding a strong alkali (like lye) to a fat (like olive oil or palm oil). The fats break down in the basic solution in a process called saponification. The crude soap is extracted from the mixture, washed, purified and finished in molds.

Down
2. Castle wall BAILEY
A “bailey” is a walled enclosure that contributes to the defenses of a castle, or the walls that surround the space.

4. All scores? TIES
Particularly in soccer, a tied score can be referred to using the word “all”. For example, a score of 1-1 is “one all”, and 0-0 is “nil all”.

7. "Orphan Black" star Maslany TATIANA
“Orphan Black" is a Canadian sci-fi TV show about several women who discover that they are in fact clones. Star of the show is Tatiana Maslany, who has what must be an exhausting job, playing all of the clones.

8. Govt. obligations T-BONDS
A Treasury note (T-Note) is a government debt that matures in 1-10 years. A T-Note has a coupon (interest) payment made every six months. The T-note is purchased at a discount to face value, and at the date of maturity can be redeemed at that face value. A T-Bill is a similar financial vehicle, but it matures in one year or less, and a T-Bond matures in 20-30 years.

9. __ de los Timbales: Tito Puente's nickname EL REY
After serving in the navy in WWII for three years, the musician Tito Puente studied at Juilliard, where he got a great grounding in conducting, orchestration and theory. Puente parlayed this education into a career in Latin Jazz and Mambo. He was known as "El Rey" as well as "The King of Latin Music".

Timbales are a type of drum from Cuba. Timbales usually come in pairs.

11. Where Hollywood is: Abbr. FLA
Hollywood is a coastal city in Florida that was founded in 1925. It was named after Hollywood, California as the founder’s dream was to build a motion picture colony on the East Coast.

12. "American Sniper" director EASTWOOD
The actor and director Clint Eastwood is a native of San Francisco, California. As many of us perhaps remember, Eastwood’s big break was playing the supporting role of Rowdy Yates in the TV show “Rawhide” in the late fifties and early sixties. He then became the face of the spaghetti western genre of movie in the sixties, most notably in the classic “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. In later years Eastwood has branched out into directing and producing with remarkable success. And of course in the late eighties he also served as mayor of his hometown, Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL who served four tours in Iraq, and then wrote a 2012 autobiography called “American Sniper”. The book was adapted into an equally successful 2014 movie of the same name. Kyle was murdered in 2013 by a US Marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder on a public shooting range.

13. Many British prime ministers ETONIANS
The world-famous Eton College is just a brisk walk from Windsor Castle, which itself is just outside London. Eton is noted for producing many British prime ministers, including David Cameron who took power in 2010. The list of Old Etonians also includes Princes William and Harry, the Duke of Wellington, George Orwell, and the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming (as well as 007 himself as described in the Fleming novels).

14. Tooth layer DENTINE
The outer layer of our teeth is made from enamel. This covers the dentin layer, which supports the enamel.

16. Web page standard HTML
HTML is HyperText Markup Language, the language used to write most Internet web pages (including this one).

22. "I copy"ROGER
The term “roger”, meaning “yes” or “acknowledged”, comes from the world of radiotelephony. The British military used a phonetic alphabet in the fifties that included "Roger" to represent the letter “R”. As such, it became customary to say “Roger” when acknowledging a message, with R (Roger) standing for “received”.

25. Black on screen KAREN
The actress Karen Black played quite a few memorable roles, including the waitress girlfriend of Jack Nicholson in “Five Easy Pieces” for which performance she received an Oscar nomination. If you have ever seen “Airport 1975”, Black is the one playing the stewardess who ended up flying the plane after a mid-air collision.

27. Bristol bro MATEY
Bristol is the most populous city in the southwest of England. Bristol is a port city, one that had an important role in growth of slavery in America. Manufactured goods from the UK were shipped from Bristol to West Africa where they were traded for Africans who were forcibly transported across the Atlantic for trade in the Americas. The slave ships brought back plantation goods to Bristol.

29. Its first national tournament was held in 1932 in Atlantic City SKEE BALL
Skee Ball is that arcade game where you roll balls up a ramp trying to "bounce" it into rings for varying numbers of points. The game was first introduced in Philadelphia, in 1909.

30. Nymph who ultimately became the stars of Ursa Major CALLISTO
In Greek mythology, Callisto was a nymph who was turned into a bear after being seduced by Zeus. As a bear she was set into the night sky as the constellation Ursa Major (the Big Bear).

32. Hillary aides SHERPAS
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.

34. Snow-White's sister, in Grimm ROSE-RED
“Snow White” is a traditional German fairy tale that was published in 1812 in the collection of the Brothers Grimm. There is also a second, very different Grimms’ Fairy Tale called “Snow-White and Rose-Red”, not to be confused with its more famous cousin. In the latter tale, Snow-White and Rose-Red are sisters who get into trouble with a dwarf, but are rescued by a bear who turns into a prince.

36. Trifle GEWGAW
A “gewgaw” is a trinket, and trivial piece of jewelry. A new term to me …

37. Été blazer SOLEIL
One might spend the summer (été) under the sun (le soleil) in France, and "juillet" is French for July (note that the name of months aren't capitalized in French).

38. Grand theft auto, e.g. FELONY
In the US, there is a dividing line between felony grand theft (a more serious crime) and misdemeanor petty theft (a lesser crime). That dividing line is a dollar amount, and that dollar amount varies from state to state.

39. Santa Ana's county ORANGE
Orange County in the Greater Los Angeles Area is the smallest county in Southern California, yet is the sixth most populous county in the US. The county seat is Santa Ana.

41. "Holy Sonnets" poet DONNE
The “Holy Sonnets” are a group of Nineteen poems by John Donne.

John Donne is one of England's most celebrated poets, working at the start of the 17th century. He spent much of his life in poverty and even spent a short time in prison for having married his wife without procuring the appropriate permissions. After his release, his wife bore him 12 children in 16 years, passing away a few days after the twelfth child was born.

42. City NNE of San Antone BIG D
“Big D” is a nickname for the city of Dallas, Texas.

The city of San Antonio was named by Spanish explorers who came up a Native American settlement in the area on 13 June 1631, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua.

44. Arctic-to-Antarctica migrating bird TERN
Terns are seabirds that are found all over the world. The Arctic Tern makes a very long-distance migration. One Arctic Tern that was tagged as a chick in Great Britain in the summer of 1982, was spotted in Melbourne, Australia just three months later. The bird had traveled over 14,000 miles in over those three months, an average of about 150 miles a day. Remarkable …

45. Like clematis VINY
The genus of flowering plant known as clematis is in the buttercup family. The name of the genus comes from an Ancient Greek word for “a climbing plant”.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Law school accrediting org. ABA
4. Current information source TWITTER FEED
15. Like many a Beverly Hills partygoer FASHIONABLY LATE
17. Heeds sound advice LISTENS TO REASON
18. Former seniors ALUMS
19. Points for a piano tuner? TINES
20. "Murder in the First" airer TNT
21. Crossword legend Reagle MERL
22. Primed READY
23. "Hogan's Heroes" setting, briefly WWII
24. Word with wash or wear EYE
25. Zen teaching techniques KOANS
26. "Aw, mom!" sound GROAN
27. Zsa Zsa's older sister MAGDA
28. "I think you'll like it!" TRY ONE!
29. Sweat inducer SCARE
31. Desolate tract WILDS
32. One good at figures? SKATER
33. Sea BRINY
35. Mirren of "The Hundred-Foot Journey" HELEN
36. Thugs GOONS
37. BART stop SFO
40. Hard to grasp EELY
41. Complex DENSE
42. Dutch word meaning "farmer" BOER
43. Triple Crown stat RBI
44. "Tequila Sunrise" writer/director Robert TOWNE
45. Beverly Hills retreat VILLA
46. Bird named for its large-scale migrations PASSENGER PIGEON
49. DVD special feature, perhaps ALTERNATE ENDING
50. Time for fluff pieces SLOW NEWS DAY
51. Soapmaker's supply LYE

Down
1. Lit AFLAME
2. Castle wall BAILEY
3. Promise ASSURE
4. All scores? TIES
5. Wooed successfully WON
6. Rather INSTEAD
7. "Orphan Black" star Maslany TATIANA
8. Govt. obligations T-BONDS
9. __ de los Timbales: Tito Puente's nickname EL REY
10. Bakery output RYES
11. Where Hollywood is: Abbr. FLA
12. "American Sniper" director EASTWOOD
13. Many British prime ministers ETONIANS
14. Tooth layer DENTINE
16. Web page standard HTML
22. "I copy" ROGER
23. Not straight, in a way WRYLY
25. Black on screen KAREN
26. They can be silly GRINS
27. Bristol bro MATEY
28. Interlace TWINE
29. Its first national tournament was held in 1932 in Atlantic City SKEE BALL
30. Nymph who ultimately became the stars of Ursa Major CALLISTO
32. Hillary aides SHERPAS
33. Tied hats BONNETS
34. Snow-White's sister, in Grimm ROSE-RED
36. Trifle GEWGAW
37. Été blazer SOLEIL
38. Grand theft auto, e.g. FELONY
39. Santa Ana's county ORANGE
41. "Holy Sonnets" poet DONNE
42. City NNE of San Antone BIG D
44. Arctic-to-Antarctica migrating bird TERN
45. Like clematis VINY
47. Needle SEW
48. Gravel designation PEA


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
5. Fast-food pork sandwich MCRIB
The McDonald’s McRib sandwich is based on a pork patty. There isn’t any pork rib in the patty though. It is primarily made up of pork shoulder meat reconstituted with tripe, heart and stomach tissue. Enjoy …

10. Oar SCULL
A scull is a boat used for competitive rowing. The main hull of the boat is often referred to as a shell. Crew members who row the boat can be referred to as “oars”.

20. "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," for one ELEGY
Walt Whitman wrote his famous poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” as an elegy following the violent death of President Lincoln.

21. Riveting woman? ROSIE
Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon that represented women working in factories across the country during WWII as part of the war effort. The term “Rosie the Riveter” first appeared as the title of a 1942 song that was a national hit.

23. Twistable snack OREO
There’s an iPhone app featuring the Oreo cookie. It’s a game in which one twists Oreo cookies apart, “licks” the cream from the center and then dunks the remainder of the cookie in a glass of milk.

24. Rock guitarist Eddy DUANE
Duane Eddy is a rock and roll guitarist from Corning, New York.

29. Search online about auditory issues? GOOGLE “EAR” (from “Google Earth”)
Google Earth is a program that maps the Earth by superimposing satellite images and aerial photographs. Google acquired the technology when it purchased Keyhole, Inc in 2004. Keyhole had been partially funded by the CIA.

32. Porch furniture material RATTAN
Rattan is the name of a large number of species of palms, all of which look less like trees and more like vines. The woody stems are used for making cane furniture.

37. Course accomplishment BIRDIE
Apparently the term "birdie" originated in 1899 at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey. A golfer hit his second shot on a par four that stopped inches from the cup after hitting a bird in flight. The golfer tapped the ball in for one-under-par, and his golfing buddies labeled the second shot a "bird". The golfers started to call one-under-par a birdie, and the term spread through the club, and from there around the world ...

40. High-altitude home AERIE
An aerie is the nest of an eagle, and is also known as an “eyrie”.

45. 1941 FDR creation USO
The United Service Organization (USO) was founded in 1941 at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt "to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces". A USO tour is undertaken by a troupe of entertainers, many of whom are big-name celebrities. A USO tour usually includes troop locations in combat zones.

46. GEICO gecko's financial counterpart? CREDIT CARD EFT (from “credit card theft”)
The Gecko is the “spokes-lizard” for GEICO. When the Gecko was introduced in 1999, he was voiced by actor Kelsey Grammer of “Cheers” and “Frasier” fame. Since then, the Gecko has been voiced by British radio presenter Dave Kelly and most recently by actor Jake Wood, who plays Max Branning on the British soap opera “EastEnders”.

GEICO was founded in 1936 with a very specific mission, to provide auto insurance for employees of the federal government and their families, hence the name Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO). GEICO is a private company, despite the word "government" in its name. The founders' idea was to focus on government employees as they believed such a group represented a lower risk profile than the rest of the population. Nowadays any qualifying person can take out a policy with GEICO.

50. "Bambi" role ENA
Ena is Bambi's aunt in the 1942 Disney film “Bambi”. The movie is based on the novel "Bambi, A Life in the Woods" written by Austrian author Felix Salten and first published in 1923. There is a documented phenomenon known as the Bambi Effect, whereby people become more interested in animal rights after having watched the scene where Bambi's mother is shot by hunters.

51. Talmudic scholar RABBI
The Talmud is a collection of writings by thousands of rabbis and is a central text in Rabbinic Judaism, second only to the Torah.

53. Pull-down beneficiaries LATS
The muscles known as the “lats” are the latissimi dorsi, the broadest muscles in the back. “Latissimus” is the Latin for “broadest” and “dorsum” is Latin for “back”.

54. Some tech sch. grads EES
Electrical engineer (EE)

61. Smooth transition SEGUE
A “segue” is a transition from one topic to the next. "Segue" is an Italian word that literally means "now follows". It was first used in musical scores directing the performer to play into the next movement without a break.

62. "Hedda Gabler" playwright IBSEN
“Hedda Gabler” is a play by the great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, first published in 1890. Considered one of the greatest theater roles, the title character of Hedda Gabler is sometimes referred to as “the female Hamlet”.

63. Colorado county or its seat PUEBLO
The city of Pueblo, Colorado is located just over 100 miles south of Denver. The city takes its name from a settlement established by fur trappers around 1842 that they called “El Pueblo” or “Fort Pueblo”. The original buildings were adobe structures, hence the “Pueblo” name.

71. Medit. country ISR
Israel (Isr.) is a country with a Mediterranean (Medit.) coast.

72. Bing's co-star in "The Bells of St. Mary's"INGRID
“Going My Way” is a 1944 musical film starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald as the incoming and outgoing pastors of a New York City parish. The film was so successful that it spawned a sequel called “The Bells of St. Mary’s” that was released the following year, with Crosby starring opposite Ingrid Bergman.

76. Oscar winner Williams ROBIN
The actor and comedian Robin Williams got his big break playing Mork on the sitcom “Mork & Mindy”. Williams also had lauded performances on the big screen, starring in films such as “Good Morning, Vietnam”, “Dead Poet’s Society”, “Good Will Hunting”, “Hook”, “Mrs. Doubtfire” and my personal favorite “The Birdcage”. The world was shocked to hear that Williams committed suicide in August 2014.

79. March VIP ST PAT
There is a fair amount known about St. Patrick, some of which comes from two letters written in his own hand. St. Patrick lived in the fifth century, but was not born in Ireland. He was first brought to Ireland at about 16 years of age from his native Britain, by Irish raiders who made him a slave for six years. Patrick managed to escape and returned to his homeland where he studied and entered the Church. He went back to Ireland as a bishop and a missionary and there lived out the rest of his life. There seems to be good evidence that he died on March 17th (now celebrated annually as St. Patrick's Day), although the year is less clear. The stories about shamrock and snakes, I am afraid they are the stuff of legend.

80. "Papa Bear" of football HALAS
The NFL's George Stanley Halas, Sr. was nicknamed "Papa Bear". He also earned the well-deserved nickname of "Mr Everything" as he was a player, coach, inventor, jurist, producer, philanthropist, philatelist and NFL owner. He led the Chicago Bears from 1921 to 1967.

81. Chicago's "in the Park" time SATURDAY
“Saturday in the Park” is a song recorded by Chicago in 1972.

The rock band called Chicago was formed in … Chicago. The band’s biggest hits are “If You Leave Me Now” (1976) and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982). The band’s lineup has changed a lot over the years. The most tragic reason for a change was in 1978 when Terry Kath, one of the band’s founding members, died from an accidentally self-inflicted gun wound. Kath enjoyed playing with guns and as a joke held a pistol with an empty magazine to his temple and pulled the trigger. A round in the chamber killed him instantly.

84. Mazda sports car MIATA
The Mazda MX-5 is sold as the Miata in North America, and as the Roadster in Japan. I've always liked the looks of the Mazda Miata, probably because it reminds me so much of old British sports cars. The Miata is built in Hiroshima, Japan.

86. Primatologist Fossey DIAN
Dian Fossey carried out her famous study of gorilla populations in the mountain forests of Rwanda (NB: it was Jane Goodall that worked with chimpanzees). Sadly, Fossey was found dead in her cabin in Rwanda in 1986, murdered in her bedroom, her skull split open by a machete. The crime was never solved.

89. One-time Capitol Records parent EMI
EMI was a British music company, with the abbreviation originally standing for Electric and Musical Industries.

Capitol Records is a record label that was founded in 1942 by lyricist and songwriter Johnny Mercer.

98. Moto portrayer LORRE
The marvelous actor Peter Lorre was born in what is now modern-day Slovakia. Lorre's real name was Laszlo Lowenstein. He started acting in Vienna when he was quite young, only 17 years old. When Hitler came to power, the Jewish Lowenstein headed to Paris and then London, eventually ending up in Hollywood. Lorre found himself typecast as the wicked foreigner in American movies, but I think he sneered and snarled his way to the bank.

The mysterious Mr. Moto is a Japanese secret agent who appears in six novels by American author, John P. Marquand. Mr. Moto was famously played by Peter Lorre in a series of eight films released in the 1930s.

102. Willowy SVELTE
“Svelte” comes into English from Latin, via the Italian "svelto" meaning "stretched out". Something or someone described as svelte would be slender and graceful.

104. Radio-active sort? CBER
A CBer is someone who operates a Citizens' Band radio. In 1945, the FCC set aside certain radio frequencies for the personal use of citizens. The use of the Citizens' Band increased throughout the seventies as advances in electronics brought down the size of transceivers and their cost. There aren't many CB radios sold these days though, as they have largely been replaced by cell phones.

109. Streams stocked with elongated fish? GAR BROOKS (from “Garth Brooks”)
The fish known as a gar is very unusual in that it is often found in very brackish water. What is interesting about gar is that their swim bladders are vascularized so that they can actually function as lungs. Many species of gar can actually be seen coming to the surface and taking a gulp of air. This adaptation makes it possible for them to live in conditions highly unsuitable for other fish that rely on their gills to get oxygen out of the water. Indeed, quite interesting …

Country singer Garth Brooks retired from recording and performing in 2001. He came back out of retirement in 2009, signing a five-year concert deal with the Encore Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

117. Asian capital HANOI
Hanoi was the capital of North Vietnam, and Saigon the capital of South Vietnam. After the Vietnam War, Hanoi was made capital of the reunified state. Saigon, the larger metropolis, was renamed to Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is located in the delta of the Red River, and is just over 50 miles from the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea.

118. Technology prefix NANO-
Nanotechnology is the study of the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular level. Nanotechnology is essential to the electronic and biomaterials industries.

120. Guadalajara gal pal AMIGA
Guadalajara is a populous city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The Mexican city is named after the city of the same name in the center of Spain.

121. "What the Butler Saw" playwright ORTON
Joe Orton was an English playwright who was active in the 1960s and who was noted for penning outrageous black comedies. Orton’s career was cut short as he was bludgeoned to death by his lover, when Orton was only 24 years old.

122. Chain with stacks IHOP
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) was founded back in 1958. IHOP was originally intended to be called IHOE, the International House of Eggs, but that name didn't do too well in marketing tests ...

125. Picking out, as a perp IDING
Perpetrator (perp.)

126. Team that's played in the same park for 100 years CUBS
The Chicago Cubs is one of only two charter members of the baseball’s National League who are still playing, the other being the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908, which is a long time ago. In fact, the Cubs have the longest championship drought of any professional sports team in North America.

The famous ballpark that is home to the Chicago Cubs was built in 1914. Back then it was known as Weeghman Park, before becoming Cubs Park in 1920, four years after the Cubs arrived in 1916. It was given the name Wrigley Field in 1926, after the owner William Wrigley, Jr. of chewing gum fame. Wrigley Field is noted as the only professional ballpark that has ivy covering the outfield walls. The ivy is a combination of Boston Ivy and Japanese Bittersweet, both of which can survive the harsh winters in Chicago.

Down
4. Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev LEONID
Leonid Brezhnev was the Soviet leader from 1964 until his death in 1982. Under Brezhnev, Soviet spending on the military grew to about 12.5% of the nation’s Gross National Product. This level of spending, without effective economic reform, led to the USSR’s “Era of Stagnation” that started in the mid-seventies. His large major political decision was to invade Afghanistan, a move that placed further strain on the fragile Soviet economy.

6. Caddies carry them CLUBS
“Caddie” is a Scottish word, as one might expect given the history of the game of golf. “Caddie” is a local word derived from the French “cadet”, meaning a younger son or brother, and also a student officer in the military.

9. Tournament pass BYE
The word "bye", as used in sport, originated in cricket. A bye is a run scored due to an error by the wicketkeeper (similar to a catcher in baseball) when he fails to stop a ball bowled by the bowler (like a pitcher in baseball). Later the word "bye" in sport came to mean the position of a player in a tournament who is left without a competitor when the rest have drawn pairs. In these commercial times, those byes tend to be awarded to the best (seeded) players, so that the most popular players always advance past the first round of competition.

10. __ Lanka SRI
The name Sri Lanka translates from Sanskrit into English as "venerable island". Before 1970, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, a name given to the country during British rule.

11. Dance in a line CONGA
The conga line is a dance that originated as a Cuban carnival march. It became popular in the US starting in the thirties. The dance is apparently named after the Congo region of Africa, and it was originated by slaves who were brought from there to Cuba.

13. Slimming option, for short LIPO
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.

16. Make more potent LACE
To lace a drink, is to spike it, by adding perhaps some alcohol or other strong substance.

17. Org. with an Anti-Retaliation webpage OSHA
Employees who report workplace injuries or safety concerns to OSHA can be referred to as whistleblowers. OSHA can use the law to protect whistleblowers from retaliation by their employers.

18. Red-bearded god THOR
In Norse mythology, Thor was the son of Odin. Thor wielded a mighty hammer and was the god of thunder, lightning and storms. Our contemporary word “Thursday” comes from “Thor’s Day”.

35. Caddy contents, perhaps TEA
A caddy is a container used for tea. “Caddy” comes from the Malay word “kati”, a unit of weight used as a standard by British tea companies in the East Indies.

38. Golfer Aoki ISAO
Isao Aoki is one of Japan's greatest golfers, now playing on the senior circuit. Aoki's best finish in a major tournament was runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in the 1980 US Open.

40. Purim month ADAR
Adar is the twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. Ada is equivalent to February-March in the Gregorian calendar.

Purim is a festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to wipe them out by Haman the Agagite, as recorded in the Book of Esther. During the celebration of Purim, the Book of Esther (or Megillah) is read aloud, once in the evening and once the following morning. By the way, Esther is the only book in the Old Testament that doesn't mention the word "God".

44. Like "American Sniper"RATED R
Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL who served four tours in Iraq, and then wrote a 2012 autobiography called “American Sniper”. The book was adapted into an equally successful 2014 movie of the same name. Kyle was murdered in 2013 by a US Marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder on a public shooting range.

47. Supreme Court appointee after Sonia ELENA
Elena Kagan was the Solicitor General of the United States who replaced Justice John Paul Stevens on the US Supreme Court. That made Justice Kagan the first female US Solicitor General and the fourth female US Supreme Court justice. I hear she is a fan of Jane Austen, and used to reread "Pride and Prejudice" once a year. Not a bad thing to do, I'd say ...

Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic justice on the US Supreme Court, and the third female justice. Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama to replace the retiring Justice David Souter.

49. Stop on a line DEPOT
Our term “depot”, meaning a station or warehouse, derives from the word “dépôt”, French for “deposit” or “place of deposit”.

52. Tiny Tim's dad BOB
Bob Cratchit is the underpaid clerk who works for Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens story “A Christmas Carol”.

Tiny Tim is the nickname of Timothy Cratchit, the little disabled boy in the Charles Dickens novella "A Christmas Carol". “A Christmas Carol” is such a popular book that it has not been out of print since its first publication in December 1843.

60. Iberian river to the Mediterranean EBRO
The Ebro is the longest river in Spain. The river was known by the Romans as the Iber, and it is the "Iber" river that gives the "Iberian" Peninsula its name.

64. __ Minor URSA
Ursa Minor (Latin for “Smaller Bear”) sits right beside the constellation Draco (Latin for "dragon"). Ursa Minor used to be considered the wing of Draco, and so was once called "Dragon's Wing".

65. Conan Doyle, by birth SCOT
The Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is most closely associated with his wonderful character Sherlock Holmes. Doyle also wrote a series of science fiction stories featuring the character Professor Challenger. The first book in which Challenger appears is the famous "The Lost World", a story about prehistoric creatures that are found living in the modern age on an isolated plateau in South America.

66. Fate KISMET
“Kismet” is a Turkish word, meaning fate or fortune, one's lot.

70. Tabriz native IRANI
Tabriz is a large city in the very northwest of Iran that once served as the country's capital.

74. Salad bar choice ITALIAN
Don’t try asking for Italian dressing in Italy, as it’s a North American invention. Italians are fond of dressing their salads with olive oil, vinegar, salt and maybe some black pepper. Try it!

78. Portfolio holding, for short IRA
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

82. Lady's company? AVON
In 1886, a young man called David McConnell was selling books door-to-door. To enhance his sales numbers he was giving out free perfume to the ladies of the houses that he visited. Seeing as his perfume was more popular than his books, he founded the California Perfume Company in New York City and started manufacturing and selling across the country. The company name was changed to Avon in 1939, and the famous "Avon Calling" marketing campaign was launched in 1954.

83. Trees used for archery bows YEWS
Yew is the wood of choice for the longbow, a valued weapon in the history of England. The longbow is constructed with a core of yew heartwood (as the heartwood resists compression) that has a sheath of yew sapwood (as the sapwood resists stretching). The yew was in such demand for longbows that for centuries yew trees were in short supply in Britain and the wood had to be imported from all over Europe.

86. Scuttlebutt DIRT
Just as modern day office workers gather around the water cooler to gossip, on board a ship back in the early 1800s the sailors would gather around the water barrel on the deck to shoot the breeze. That water barrel was called a "scuttlebutt", from "scuttle" (opening in a ship's deck) and "butt" (barrel). Quite interesting ...

92. Part of IPA ALE
India Pale Ale (IPA) is a style of beer that originated in England. The beer was originally intended for transportation from England to India, hence the name.

93. Bit of cybermirth LOL
Laugh out loud (LOL, in text-speak)

103. Europe's longest river VOLGA
The Volga is the longest river in Europe, and is considered the national river of Russia.

104. Sing like Rudy Vallee CROON
Rudy Vallee was the stage name of Hubert Vallée, a singer and actor from Island Pond, Vermont. Vallee was known for his singing style, and is usually referred to as the first “crooner”. Early in his career he performed without the benefit of microphone technology and had to use a megaphone as he was perhaps the first real “pop star” and played to sell-out audiences.

105. Plastic choice VISA
Did you know that Visa doesn't issue any credit cards? Visa just sells the electronic systems and infrastructure to banks who then put the Visa logo on their own cards so that both the customer and merchant know to use the VISA system when making a transaction.

108. The Tide BAMA
The athletic teams of the University of Alabama (“Bama”) are nicknamed the Crimson Tide, a reference to the team colors of crimson and white.

111. Island where Bette Midler was born OAHU
One of my favorite singers, and indeed all-round entertainers, is Bette Midler. If you've ever seen her live show you'll know that "camp" is a good word to describe it, as her humor is definitely "out there" and quite bawdy. Early in her career, Midler spent years singing in the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in New York City. There she became very close friends with her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow. While singing in the bathhouse, Bette only wore a white towel, just like the members of her audience. It was in those days that she created her famous character "the Divine Miss M" and also earned herself the nickname "Bathhouse Betty".

117. __ polloi HOI
"Hoi polloi" is a Greek term, literally meaning "the majority, the many". In English, "hoi polloi" has come to mean "the masses" and is often used in a derogatory sense.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Let the tears out BAWL
5. Fast-food pork sandwich MCRIB
10. Oar SCULL
15. Datebook opening SLOT
19. Ad, basically LURE
20. "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," for one ELEGY
21. Riveting woman? ROSIE
22. Break-even transaction WASH
23. Twistable snack OREO
24. Rock guitarist Eddy DUANE
25. Bungling INEPT
26. Off-the-wall answer? ECHO
27. Bud who's been fired? CANNED BRO (from “canned broth”)
29. Search online about auditory issues? GOOGLE “EAR” (from “Google Earth”)
31. Sources of complaints ILLS
32. Porch furniture material RATTAN
36. Breakfast grain OAT
37. Course accomplishment BIRDIE
40. High-altitude home AERIE
41. Maine course LOBSTER
45. 1941 FDR creation USO
46. GEICO gecko's financial counterpart? CREDIT CARD EFT (from “credit card theft”)
50. "Bambi" role ENA
51. Talmudic scholar RABBI
53. Pull-down beneficiaries LATS
54. Some tech sch. grads EES
55. Spew out EGEST
57. "Happy to help" NO BOTHER
59. Trickles SEEPS
61. Smooth transition SEGUE
62. "Hedda Gabler" playwright IBSEN
63. Colorado county or its seat PUEBLO
65. Kept for later STORED
66. Reunion attendees KIN
68. One fastidious about table manners? EATER CRITIC (from “theater critic”)
71. Medit. country ISR
72. Bing's co-star in "The Bells of St. Mary's" INGRID
75. Use as support REST ON
76. Oscar winner Williams ROBIN
79. March VIP ST PAT
80. "Papa Bear" of football HALAS
81. Chicago's "in the Park" time SATURDAY
84. Mazda sports car MIATA
85. Rocks in rye ICE
86. Primatologist Fossey DIAN
88. Easily deceived NAIVE
89. One-time Capitol Records parent EMI
90. Editor's marks in the margin? LATERAL INKING (from “lateral thinking”)
95. "Get it done" NOW
96. Alley game TENPINS
98. Moto portrayer LORRE
99. Evens up ALIGNS
101. High bond rating AAA
102. Willowy SVELTE
104. Radio-active sort? CBER
105. Displeased reaction to election turnout? VOTING BOO (from “voting booth”)
109. Streams stocked with elongated fish? GAR BROOKS (from “Garth Brooks”)
114. Rare cry from the slots I WON!
115. Come from behind RALLY
117. Asian capital HANOI
118. Technology prefix NANO-
119. It may be reserved SEAT
120. Guadalajara gal pal AMIGA
121. "What the Butler Saw" playwright ORTON
122. Chain with stacks IHOP
123. Puts in ADDS
124. Polite title MADAM
125. Picking out, as a perp IDING
126. Team that's played in the same park for 100 years CUBS

Down
1. Political coalition BLOC
2. Intangible quality AURA
3. Little singer WREN
4. Ex-Soviet leader Brezhnev LEONID
5. One getting too personal MEDDLER
6. Caddies carry them CLUBS
7. Back REAR
8. "That's not important" IGNORE IT
9. Tournament pass BYE
10. __ Lanka SRI
11. Dance in a line CONGA
12. Apply to USE ON
13. Slimming option, for short LIPO
14. Release LET GO OF
15. Term of affection SWEETS
16. Make more potent LACE
17. Org. with an Anti-Retaliation webpage OSHA
18. Red-bearded god THOR
28. Brings forth ELICITS
30. Blood work, e.g. LAB TEST
33. Cultural pursuits ARTS
34. It may be a sign of stress TIC
35. Caddy contents, perhaps TEA
37. Ruin in the kitchen BURN
38. Golfer Aoki ISAO
39. Consequence of a heist injury? ROBBING PAIN (from “throbbing pain”)
40. Purim month ADAR
41. Lower in price LESS
42. Part of a project to recycle golf accessories? TEE GRINDING (from “teeth grinding”)
43. Comes after ENSUES
44. Like "American Sniper" RATED R
47. Supreme Court appointee after Sonia ELENA
48. Land on the sea? REEL IN
49. Stop on a line DEPOT
52. Tiny Tim's dad BOB
56. Graphic beginning? GEO-
58. Be mindful of HEED
59. Breakaway factions SECTS
60. Iberian river to the Mediterranean EBRO
63. Kitchen gadget PEELER
64. __ Minor URSA
65. Conan Doyle, by birth SCOT
66. Fate KISMET
67. Eventually IN TIME
69. Barely detectable amount TRACE
70. Tabriz native IRANI
73. State secrets? RAT
74. Salad bar choice ITALIAN
77. Criminal likely to get caught BUNGLER
78. Portfolio holding, for short IRA
80. Stage successes HITS
81. Benefit SAKE
82. Lady's company? AVON
83. Trees used for archery bows YEWS
86. Scuttlebutt DIRT
87. Concerning, with "to" IN REGARD
91. Parties, to pirates ANAGRAM
92. Part of IPA ALE
93. Bit of cybermirth LOL
94. Picking up NABBING
97. Goes over the wall? PAINTS
100. Having a twist IRONIC
102. Not flimsy SOLID
103. Europe's longest river VOLGA
104. Sing like Rudy Vallee CROON
105. Plastic choice VISA
106. Had to pay OWED
107. Despicable sort TOAD
108. The Tide BAMA
110. Dead set against ANTI
111. Island where Bette Midler was born OAHU
112. A lock may be in one KNOB
113. Soaks (up) SOPS
116. Holiday veggie YAM
117. __ polloi HOI


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
14. Morse code bit DAH
Dahs and dits are the sound equivalents of dashes and dots in Morse code.

15. Electric razor brand BRAUN
Braun is a manufacturer of consumer goods based in Kronberg, Germany.

16. Like some short-term committees AD HOC
The Latin phrase "ad hoc" means "for this purpose".

18. Hotel lobby supervisor BELL CAPTAIN (giving “dinner bell”)
A bell captain supervises bellhops in a hotel. The term “bellhop” comes from the fact that the front desk clerk used to ring a “bell” to summon a porter, who then “hopped” to attention and received his or her instructions.

22. Texter's "Wish you hadn't said that!"TMI
Too much information! (TMI)

24. Working the room, as at a banquet TABLE-HOPPING (giving “dinner table”)
A banquet is an elaborate feast. “Banquet” is a term that seems to have reversed in meaning over time. Coming into English via French from Old Italian, “banquet” is derived from “banco” meaning “bench”. The original “banco” meal was simply a snack eaten on a bench, rather than at a table.

29. Gumshoes: Abbr. PIS
Gumshoe is a slang term for a private detective or private investigator (P.I.). Apparently the term "gumshoe" dates back to the early 1900s, and refers to the rubber-soled shoes popular with private detectives at that time.

32. Madrid museum PRADO
The Museo del Prado is in Madrid, the capital of Spain, and has one of the finest art collections in the world. The gallery's most famous work is "Las Meninas" By Velazquez.

Madrid is the largest city in Spain and the capital. Madrid is located very close to the geographical center of the country. It is the third-largest city in the European Union (after London and Paris). People from Madrid called themselves Madrileños.

53. Nielsen of "The Naked Gun" films LESLIE
Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor, famous for playing the zany Sergeant Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun". Nielsen’s big break in films came in the innovative comedy “Airplane!”

56. Canon SLR camera EOS
I've been using Canon EOS cameras for decades now, and have nothing but good things to say about the cameras and the lenses. The EOS name stands for Electro-Optical System, and was chosen because it evokes the name of Eos, the Titan goddess of dawn from Greek mythology.

57. Indian wrap SARI
The item of clothing called a "sari" (also "saree") is a strip of cloth, as one might imagine, unusual perhaps in that is unstitched along the whole of its length. The strip of cloth can range from four to nine meters long (that's a lot of material!). The sari is usually wrapped around the waist, then draped over the shoulder leaving the midriff bare. I must say, it can be a beautiful item of clothing.

64. Mao __-tung TSE
Mao Zedong (also “Mao Tse-tung”) was born on December 16, 1893 in the Hunan Province of China. As Mao was the son of a peasant farmer, his prospects for education were limited. Indeed he left school at age 13 to work on the family farm but did eventually get to secondary school in Changsha, the provincial capital. In the years following, Mao continued his education in Beijing and actually turned down an opportunity to study in France.

65. Unlike poetry PROSY
Something that is “prosy” resembles prose. Also, “prosy” can be used to mean lacking impact or dry, prosaic in fact.

66. Blended ice cream drinks MALTS
Walgreens claims to have introduced the malted milkshake, in 1922.

67. Buddhist sect ZEN
Zen is a Buddhist school that developed its own tradition in China back in the 7th century AD. Zen is a Japanese spelling of the Chinese word "chan", which in turn derives from the Sanskrit word "dhyana" meaning "meditation".

Down
2. "Our Gang" girl DARLA
Alfalfa's love interest in "Our Gang" was Darla, whose real name was Darla Hood. Hood became quite a successful singer after she grew out of her "Our Gang" role.

4. Consumer protection gp. BBB
The Better Business Bureau isa private concern (nope, it is not a government agency), founded in 1912. It operates like a franchise, with local BBB's managed independently but operating to a "corporate" set of guidelines.

5. "Respect" singer Franklin ARETHA
I think Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, had a tough life. Franklin had her first son when she was just 13-years-old, and her second at 15. In 2008, "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked Franklin as number one in their list of the greatest singers of all time.

“Respect” is a song by Otis Redding, and one that he recorded himself in 1965. It became a hit when Aretha Franklin made her famous cover version in 1967. The Redding and Franklin versions have different storylines though, and different musical "feels".

6. Upstream swimmer SALMON
When young salmon (born in freshwater) are at the smolt stage, they become adapted to saltwater and head for the sea. They return to freshwater to reproduce, often traveling long distances upstream.

7. Dutch bulb TULIP
Tulip festivals are held in a few cities around the world. The largest of these is the Canadian Tulip Festival that is held every year in the capital city of Ottawa. The tradition of growing tulips in Ottawa really started at the end of WWII. The Dutch royal family presented the city with 100,000 tulip bulbs as an act of thank for having sheltered Princess Juliana and her children while the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. The first Canadian Tulip Festival took place in 1953.

8. Britannica, e.g.: Abbr. ENC
Encyclopedia (enc.)

The “Encyclopædia Britannica” is the oldest English-language encyclopedia that is still being published. The final print edition was issued in 2010, a set of 32 volumes. The focus in recent years moved away from print and is on the online version of the encyclopedia.

11. Melville's obsessive whaler AHAB
Captain Ahab is the obsessed and far from friendly captain of the Pequod in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick". The role of Captain Ahab was played by Gregory Peck in the 1956 John Huston film adaptation. Patrick Stewart played Ahab in a 1998 miniseries in which Peck made another appearance, as Father Mapple.

13. Clearasil target ACNE
Clearasil acne medication was developed in 1940 by Ivan Combe and Kedzie Teller. Combe promoted the product by sponsoring the television show “American Bandstand” for many years.

25. Sufficient, in poetry ENOW
“Enow” is an archaic form of the word "enough".

31. Hebrides isle SKYE
The Isle of Skye is off the northwest coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides. It is the second largest island in the country, and has been linked to the mainland by a road bridge since 1995. I've never been there, but I hear the views are spectacular.

32. Many emailed image files PDFS
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format introduced by Adobe Systems in 1993. PDF documents can be shared between users and read using many different applications, making them more universally accessible than documents saved by one particular program.

34. Suit filer: Abbr. ATTY
Attorney (atty.)

35. " ... hallowed be __ name"THY
“Hallowed by thy name” is a phrase from the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christian religions, and is found in two places in the New Testament. In the version in the Gospel of Matthew the last line of the prayer is "deliver from evil". In the Gospel of Luke the last line is "lead us not into temptation". The last words of the prayer as it most often said today are:

For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever,
Amen

36. Dictation takers STENOS
Stenography is the process of writing in shorthand. The term comes from the Greek "steno" (narrow) and "graphe" (writing).

46. Big name in little trains LIONEL
Lionel is the name most associated with toy trains in the US. The first Lionel trains rolled off the production line in 1901 and they are still produced today, although the original Lionel Corporation is long gone. In 1995, the brand was bought by an investment company that included train enthusiast Neil Young (the singer), and operated as Lionel, LLC. Neil Young's financial involvement ended after a 2008 reorganization of the company following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, but the company is still producing and selling.

47. What an editor's caret indicates INSERT
The character known as a caret was originally a proofreading mark, used to indicate where a punctuation mark was to be inserted. “Caret” is Latin for “it lacks”.

49. Busybody YENTA
Yenta (also "Yente") is actually a female Yiddish name. In Yiddish theater "yenta" came to mean a busybody.

54. Get an __ effort E FOR
Apparently the phrase “E for effort” originated as a WWII campaign in the US to help boost productivity in factories.

55. Houston player, informally ‘STRO
The Houston baseball team changed its name to the Astros (sometimes “‘Stros”) from the Colt .45s in 1965 when they started playing in the Astrodome. The Astrodome was so called in recognition of the city's long association with the US space program.

60. Hosp. staffers RNS
Registered nurses (RNs)

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Website pop-ups, e.g. ADS
4. Brush with liquid while roasting BASTE
9. Jeweled headwear TIARA
14. Morse code bit DAH
15. Electric razor brand BRAUN
16. Like some short-term committees AD HOC
17. Make a boo-boo ERR
18. Hotel lobby supervisor BELL CAPTAIN (giving “dinner bell”)
20. Bathtub insert PLUG
22. Texter's "Wish you hadn't said that!" TMI
23. Practical, as a solution VIABLE
24. Working the room, as at a banquet TABLE-HOPPING (giving “dinner table”)
27. Words before uproar IN AN ...
28. Dipstick wiper RAG
29. Gumshoes: Abbr. PIS
32. Madrid museum PRADO
35. Little kid TOT
36. Went to the bottom SANK
37. Time of reckoning DATE WITH DESTINY (giving “dinner date”)
41. Is the right size FITS
42. Yea's opposite NAY
43. Short, but probably not sweet TERSE
44. Sneaky SLY
45. Warm lining FUR
46. Feline king LION
48. Congressional majority, e.g. PARTY IN POWER (giving “dinner party”)
53. Nielsen of "The Naked Gun" films LESLIE
56. Canon SLR camera EOS
57. Indian wrap SARI
58. When one might have a mint ... or where the first words of 18-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across can be found AFTER DINNER
61. Santa visitor's seat LAP
62. Fable's lesson MORAL
63. Rear, to an admiral STERN
64. Mao __-tung TSE
65. Unlike poetry PROSY
66. Blended ice cream drinks MALTS
67. Buddhist sect ZEN

Down
1. Quite competent ADEPT
2. "Our Gang" girl DARLA
3. Decorative foundation plant SHRUB
4. Consumer protection gp. BBB
5. "Respect" singer Franklin ARETHA
6. Upstream swimmer SALMON
7. Dutch bulb TULIP
8. Britannica, e.g.: Abbr. ENC
9. Wrapping, as an ankle TAPING
10. Rover's collar attachment ID TAG
11. Melville's obsessive whaler AHAB
12. Stir up ROIL
13. Clearasil target ACNE
19. Fly AVIATE
21. Flies like a seagull GLIDES
25. Sufficient, in poetry ENOW
26. Cattle poker PROD
29. Low poker hand PAIR
30. Quaint lodges INNS
31. Hebrides isle SKYE
32. Many emailed image files PDFS
33. Train wheel guide RAIL
34. Suit filer: Abbr. ATTY
35. " ... hallowed be __ name" THY
36. Dictation takers STENOS
38. Accustomed (to) INURED
39. Small fruit pie TART
40. Four-way __ STOP
45. Without prejudice FAIRLY
46. Big name in little trains LIONEL
47. What an editor's caret indicates INSERT
48. Sincere entreaties PLEAS
49. Busybody YENTA
50. Dance in triple meter WALTZ
51. Wipe out ERASE
52. Mature, as fruit RIPEN
53. Desk light LAMP
54. Get an __ effort E FOR
55. Houston player, informally ‘STRO
59. School-of-thought suffix -ISM
60. Hosp. staffers RNS


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
14. Birdbath buildup ALGAE
Algae are similar to terrestrial plants in that they use photosynthesis to create sugars from light and carbon dioxide, but they differ in that they have simpler anatomies, and for example lack roots.

15. Plant "pet"CHIA
Chia is a flowering plant in the mint family. Chia seeds are an excellent food source and are often added to breakfast cereals and energy bars. There is also the famous Chia Pet, an invention of a San Francisco company. Chia Pets are terracotta figurines to which are applied moistened chia seeds. The seeds sprout and the seedlings become the "fur" of the Chia Pet.

17. *Game with a barrel-throwing gorilla DONKEY KONG
The first video game featuring the ape called Donkey Kong was created in 1981. That first “Donkey Kong” game also introduced the world to the character known as “Mario”, four years before “Super Mario Bros” became such a big hit.

19. "Flip or Flop" cable channel HGTV
HGTV first went on air in 1994, as the “Home, Lawn and Garden Channel”. The name was shortened (the lawn was dropped) soon after, but nowadays it’s just known as HGTV.

“Flip or Flop” is a reality TV show about the buying and selling of real estate. In each episode, husband-and-wife real estate agents Tarek and Christina El Moussa go through the whole process of flipping a house, from start to finish.

20. Dueling sword EPEE
The sword known as an épée has a three-sided blade. The épée is similar to a foil and sabre, both of which are also thrusting weapons. However, the foil and saber have rectangular cross-sections.

22. Slammer POKEY
"Pokey” (also “poky") is a slang term for prison, possibly a corruption of "pogie", a term for a "poorhouse".

25. "Moi?"WHO? ME?
“Moi” is the French word for “me”.

27. __ Lingus AER
Aer Lingus is my favorite airline! Well, the service isn't that great, but when I get on board an Aer Lingus plane I feel like I am back in Ireland. Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland, with "Aer Lingus" being a phonetic spelling of the Irish "aer-loingeas" meaning "air fleet". These days Aer Lingus can only lay claim to the title of Ireland's oldest airline as it is no longer the biggest. That honor goes to the controversial budget airline called Ryanair.

28. Reason for an R rating VIOLENCE
The Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) film-rating system (PG-13, R, etc.) is purely voluntary and is not backed by any law. Movie theaters agree to abide by the rules that come with the MPAA ratings in exchange for access to new movies.

35. Crooner Cole NAT
Nat King Cole's real name was Nathaniel Adams Coles. Cole made television history in 1956 when his own show debuted on NBC, a first for an African-American. Cole couldn't pick up a national sponsor, so in order to save money and possibly save the show, many guest artists worked for no fee at all - the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte and Peggy Lee. The show survived for a year, but eventually Nat King Cole had to pull the plug on it himself.

36. Stat that's better when it's lower ERA
Earned run average (ERA)

41. Expressive rock genre EMO
The musical genre of "emo" originated in Washington D.C. in the 80s, and takes its name from "emotional hardcore". “Emo” is also the name given to the associated subculture. Not my cup of tea …

42. Architect Maya __ LIN
Maya Lin is a Chinese American born in Athens Ohio, and is an artist and architect. Her most famous work is the moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Lin was only 21-years-old when she won a public design competition in 1981 to create the memorial. Although her design is very fitting, sadly Lin was not a popular choice for the work given her Asian heritage. As she said herself, she probably would not have been picked had the competition been judged with the knowledge of who was behind each submission.

43. Serengeti grazer GNU
A gnu is also known as a wildebeest, and is an antelope native to Africa. "Wildebeest" is actually the Dutch word for "wild beast".

The Serengeti is a region in Africa, located in northern Tanzania and southwest Kenya. The name “Serengeti” comes from the Maasai language and means “Endless Plains”.

44. Crease-resistant fabric ORLON
Orlon is the brand name used by the DuPont Corporation for the acrylic fibers the company developed in 1941.

51. Art form profiled in the documentary "Between the Folds"ORIGAMI
Origami is the traditional Japanese art form of paper folding. The best-known example of the craft is the paper crane. The word “origami” is derived from “ori“ (folding) and “kami” (paper).

61. *Karl Marx opus DAS KAPITAL
"Das Kapital" (entitled "Capital" in English versions) is a book about political economy written by Karl Marx, first published in 1867. The book is in effect an analysis of capitalism, and proffers the opinion that capitalism relies on the exploitation of workers. Marx concludes that the profits from capitalist concerns come from the underpaying of labor.

63. Motown's Marvin GAYE
Marvin Gaye was a singer-songwriter from Washington, D.C. who came to be known as “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown”. Some of Gaye’s biggest hits are “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968), “What’s Going On?” (1971), “Let’s Get It On” (1973) and “Sexual Healing” (1982). Famously, Gaye was shot dead by his father while Marvin was sitting on his mother’s bed just talking to her. Marvin had given the gun to his father as a Christmas gift.

Motown Records is a record label that was founded in 1959 in Detroit (aka “Motor City” or “Motown”). The founder of Motown records was Berry Gordy, Jr.

65. Singer Baker ANITA
Anita Baker is an R&B and soul singer who was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Baker’s most successful song is the Grammy-winning “Sweet Love” released in 1986.

66. Call router: Abbr. OPER
I am quite proud to be related to several of my ancestors in particular. One was my great-grandmother, as she was the first female telephone operator in Ireland …

67. Bread served with chicken tikka masala NAAN
Naan (also “nan”) bread is very popular in Indian restaurants, as well as in other West, Central and South Asian cuisines. Indian Naan is traditionally baked in a clay oven known as a tandoor.

Chicken tikka masala is a dish, comprising chicken tikka (chunks of marinated chicken) served in a masala sauce. Masala is the Hindi word for "mixture", and describes a mixture of spices. A dish named "masala" uses the spices incorporated into a sauce that includes garlic, ginger, onions and chili paste. Although served as part of Indian cuisine, there seems to be a lot of evidence that chicken tikka masala was actually invented in an Indian restaurant in Britain.

Down
1. Stored in the hold LADED
The verb "lade" meaning "to load" comes from an Old English word "hladan". Lade also used to mean "to draw water" and indeed gave us our word "ladle". So "lade" and "ladle" are close cousins.

3. Dancer de Mille AGNES
Agnes de Mille was a dancer and choreographer from New York City. She was the niece of famous director Cecil B. DeMille, and the daughter of William C. deMille who was also a Hollywood director. Agnes turned to dance after she was told that she was “not pretty enough” to pursue her first love, which was acting …

6. Jim of "Wide World of Sports"MCKAY
Jim McKay was a sports journalist, most famous for hosting ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” for 37 years, ending in 1998. McKay also covered 12 Olympic Games, including his memorable coverage of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. McKay also served his country during WWII in the US Navy, in which he was the captain of a minesweeper.

7. Self-help website EHOW
eHow is a how-to website that was founded in 1999. eHow has an awful lot of content but doesn’t do a great job of assessing the value of that content. I wouldn’t recommend it …

10. Announcement from the foyer I’M HOME
“Foyer”, meaning “lobby”, is a French word that we’ve imported into English. In French, "foyer" is used for what we would call a "green room", a place where actors can gather when not on stage or on set.

11. *Temporary housing for Fido DOG KENNEL
"Fido", the name for many a dog, is Latin for "I trust".

13. Green-eyed monster ENVY
William Shakespeare was one of the first to associate the color green with envy. He called jealousy the "green-eyed monster" in his play "Othello".

18. "Son of Frankenstein" role YGOR
1939’s “Son of Frankenstein” is the third in the series of classic horror films featuring Boris Karloff as the Monster. The prior titles are “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein”. Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant Ygor is played by Bela Lugosi.

22. D.C. insider POL
Politician (pol)

24. No longer working: Abbr. RETD
Retired (retd.)

26. Sharpen HONE
“To hone” is to sharpen, a verb derived from the noun “hone” A “hone” is a whetstone used in sharpening.

28. Computer invader VIRUS
A computer virus has characteristics very similar to a virus found in nature. It is a small computer program that can copy itself and can infect another host (computer).

29. Hunter's garb, for short CAMO
Our term “camouflage” evolved directly from a Parisian slang term “camoufler” meaning “to disguise”. The term was first used in WWI, although the British navy at that time preferred the expression “dazzle-painting” as it applied to the pattern applied to the hulls of ships.

30. Thames school ETON
The world-famous Eton College sits on the River Thames and is just a brisk walk from Windsor Castle, which itself is just outside London. Eton is noted for producing many British leaders including David Cameron who took power in the last UK general election. The list of Old Etonians also includes Princes William and Harry, the Duke of Wellington, George Orwell, and the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming (as well as 007 himself as described in the Fleming novels).

The River Thames flowing though London is the longest river entirely located in England.

33. *"The Court Jester" star DANNY KAYE
The actor Danny Kaye was a big hit in his native US, but also in France. Kaye was the first ambassador-at-large for UNICEF and the French awarded him the Legion of Honor in 1986 for his work.

“The Court Jester" is a 1956 musical comedy starring Danny Kaye. A lot of money was sunk into the film, so much that it was the most expensive comedy film made up to that time. “The Court Jester” bombed at the box office, but has made a lot of money since then through TV broadcasts.

39. "He's a priest," not a beast, per Ogden Nash ONE-L LAMA
The poet Ogden Nash is well known for his light and humorous verse. Try this one for size:

The one-L lama,
He's a priest.
The two-L llama,
He's a beast.
And I would bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-L lllama.

40. Bear or Berra YOGI
Yogi Bear made his debut for Hanna-Barbera in 1958, on the Huckleberry Hound Show before he was given his own series. Do you remember that collar that Yogi wore around his neck? That was a little trick from the animators. By using the collar, for many frames all they had to do was redraw everything from the collar up, saving them lots and lots of time. Yogi and Boo Boo lived in Jellystone Park, and made Ranger Smith’s life a misery.

Yogi Berra is regarded by many as the greatest catcher ever to play in Major League Baseball, and has to be America's most celebrated "author" of malapropisms. Here are some greats:

- "It ain't over till it's over."
- "90% of the game is half mental."
- "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
- (giving directions) "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
- "It's déjà vu all over again."
- "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours."
- “A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.”

45. Propecia rival ROGAINE
Rogaine is a brand name for the drug Minoxidil. It was developed as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure, but was found to have an exploitable side-effect. It caused an increase in the rate of hair growth. A topical solution was marketed to promote growth of hair especially in balding men. The drug seems to work well, but when the application is stopped, things go back to normal in about 60 days. Wouldn’t dream of touching the stuff myself …

Propecia is a brand name of the medication finasteride, which is used to treat male-pattern baldness.

51. Pest control company ORKIN
Orkin is a pest-control company. If you want to learn more about insects, you might want to visit the O. Orkin Zoo, a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The exhibit has over 300 live insects, all displayed in their natural habitats.

52. Bit of slapstick ANTIC
“Slapstick” is physical comedy, horseplay. Back in the late 19th century, the term described a device made from two sticks loosely fastened together, which could be “slapped” together to create a sound effect offstage. The sound effect added to the laugh when a clown or actor was given a slap on stage.

53. Sporty Mazda MIATA
The Mazda MX-5 is sold as the Miata in North America, and as the Roadster in Japan. I've always liked the looks of the Mazda Miata, probably because it reminds me so much of old British sports cars. The Miata is built in Hiroshima, Japan.

54. Cavity filler INLAY
“Inlay” is another word for a filling in dentistry. An “onlay” is similar to an inlay. An onlay not only fills a hole in the tooth but it is also built up to replace a missing cusp. It’s sort of halfway between a filling and a crown, I suppose.

55. Jason's vessel ARGO
In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts sailed on the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece. The vessel was called the "Argo" in honor of the ship's builder, a man named Argus.

56. Half-moon tide NEAP
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on the oceans. At neap tide, the smaller gravitational effect of the sun cancels out some of the moon's effect. At spring tide, the sun and the moon's gravitational forces act in concert causing more extreme movement of the oceans.

58. Midshipman's sch. USNA
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is located in Annapolis, Maryland. The USNA was founded in 1845 and educates officers for both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. The motto of the USNA is “Ex Scientia Tridens”, which translates as “From Knowledge, Sea Power”.

61. Ex-Dodger manager Mattingly DON
Don Mattingly is a former professional baseball player who played his entire career with the New York Yankees. Mattingly coached the LA Dodgers since from 2011 until 2015.

62. __ Thai: rice noodle dish PAD
The delicious dish called Pad Thai is a meld of stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind juice, red chili pepper plus a mix of vegetables and possibly tofu, meat or fish. It is usually topped with crushed peanuts, coriander and lime. The name "Pad Thai" translates as "fried Thai-style".

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Riffles (through) LEAFS
6. Kitty cries MEWS
10. Like some chatter or threats IDLE
14. Birdbath buildup ALGAE
15. Plant "pet" CHIA
16. Bellyache MOAN
17. *Game with a barrel-throwing gorilla DONKEY KONG
19. "Flip or Flop" cable channel HGTV
20. Dueling sword EPEE
21. Stare unsubtly GAWK
22. Slammer POKEY
23. Wreck completely DESTROY
25. "Moi?" WHO? ME?
27. __ Lingus AER
28. Reason for an R rating VIOLENCE
31. "I __ thought of that" HADN’T
34. Place to overnight INN
35. Crooner Cole NAT
36. Stat that's better when it's lower ERA
37. *Lock insert DOOR KEY
41. Expressive rock genre EMO
42. Architect Maya __ LIN
43. Serengeti grazer GNU
44. Crease-resistant fabric ORLON
46. Sewer system entry points MANHOLES
49. Back when AGO
50. Alpine warble YODEL
51. Art form profiled in the documentary "Between the Folds" ORIGAMI
55. Joint sometimes twisted ANKLE
57. Fishing decoy LURE
59. Have __: be connected AN IN
60. "Are you for __?!" REAL
61. *Karl Marx opus DAS KAPITAL
63. Motown's Marvin GAYE
64. Prefix meaning "all" OMNI-
65. Singer Baker ANITA
66. Call router: Abbr. OPER
67. Bread served with chicken tikka masala NAAN
68. Go to pot ... or a phonetic hint to the answers to starred clues DECAY

Down
1. Stored in the hold LADED
2. Become running mates? ELOPE
3. Dancer de Mille AGNES
4. Skin bronzing from a bottle FAKE TAN
5. "Understand?" SEE?
6. Jim of "Wide World of Sports" MCKAY
7. Self-help website EHOW
8. [Don't take me too seriously] WINK WINK
9. Hang loosely SAG
10. Announcement from the foyer I’M HOME
11. *Temporary housing for Fido DOG KENNEL
12. Behind schedule LATE
13. Green-eyed monster ENVY
18. "Son of Frankenstein" role YGOR
22. D.C. insider POL
24. No longer working: Abbr. RETD
26. Sharpen HONE
28. Computer invader VIRUS
29. Hunter's garb, for short CAMO
30. Thames school ETON
31. Captain's position HELM
32. Opera highlight ARIA
33. *"The Court Jester" star DANNY KAYE
38. Stare rudely at OGLE
39. "He's a priest," not a beast, per Ogden Nash ONE-L LAMA
40. Bear or Berra YOGI
45. Propecia rival ROGAINE
47. Shout out HOLLER
48. Glorifying verse ODE
49. Word after work or play AREA
51. Pest control company ORKIN
52. Bit of slapstick ANTIC
53. Sporty Mazda MIATA
54. Cavity filler INLAY
55. Jason's vessel ARGO
56. Half-moon tide NEAP
58. Midshipman's sch. USNA
61. Ex-Dodger manager Mattingly DON
62. __ Thai: rice noodle dish PAD


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Fabric mimicked by jeggings DENIM
Denim fabric originated in Nimes in France. The French phrase "de Nimes" (from Nimes) gives us the word "denim". Also, the French phrase "bleu de Genes" (blue of Genoa) gives us our word "jeans".

Jeggings are a special type of leggings, ones made from a denim/spandex blend. In effect, jeggings have a denim look, but with the elasticity of leggings.

6. Dallas NBA team MAVS
The Mavericks are the NBA franchise in Dallas, Texas. The team was founded in 1980, and the Mavericks name was chosen by fan votes. The choice of “Mavericks” was prompted by the fact that the actor James Garner was a part-owner of the team, and Garner of course played the title role in the “Maverick” television series.

10. Indian mausoleum city AGRA
The most famous mausoleum in the world has to be the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The Taj Mahal was built after the death of the third wife of Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal (hence the name of the mausoleum). The poor woman died in childbirth delivering the couple's 14th child.

17. Midler's "Divine" nickname MISS M
One of my favorite singers, and indeed all-round entertainers, is Bette Midler. If you've ever seen her live show you'll know that "camp" is a good word to describe it, as her humor is definitely "out there" and quite bawdy. Early in her career, Midler spent years singing in the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in New York City. There she became very close friends with her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow. While singing in the bathhouse, Bette only wore a white towel, just like the members of her audience. It was in those days that she created her famous character "the Divine Miss M" and also earned herself the nickname "Bathhouse Betty".

22. Big name in auto racing ANDRETTI
Mario Andretti is a retired Italian American racing driver who was named US Driver of the Year in 1967, 1978 and 1984. Both of Mario's sons, Michael and Jeff are successful auto racers, as well as Mario's nephews, John and Adam Andretti. John and Adam are sons of Mario’s brother Aldo Andretti. Aldo also raced cars, but quit after a crash in 1969 that severely damaged his face. Aldo is Mario’s identical twin brother, but there is no resemblance after the reconstructive surgery necessitated by the accident.

23. Kerfuffles ADOS
“Kerfuffle” comes from the Scottish “curfuffle”, with both words meaning “disruption”.

25. Advanced degs. MAS
Master of Arts (MA)

26. "Rogue Lawyer" novelist JOHN GRISHAM
"The Firm" is the book that brought John Grisham his first success, although it was the second novel that he wrote. The first was "A Time to Kill", which garnered a lot more attention after "The Firm" took off. Personally, my favorite of his novels is "Runaway Jury".

31. Whiskas eater CAT
The brand name “Whiskas” has been used for cat food since 1988, but the product itself has been made in McLean, Virginia since 1936. For decades it was sold under the name “Kal Kan”.

34. Pulitzer winner Walker ALICE
Alice Walker is an author and poet. Walker’s best known work is the novel “The Color Purple”, which earned her the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. “The Color Purple” was adapted into a very successful film of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg.

35. Actor McGregor EWAN
Ewan McGregor is a very talented Scottish actor, one who got his break in the 1996 film "Trainspotting". McGregor's first big Hollywood role was playing the young Obi-Wan-Kenobi in the "Star Wars" prequels. Less known is his televised marathon motorcycle journey from London to New York via central Europe, Ukraine, Siberia, Mongolia and Canada. The 2004 trip was shown as "Long Way Round" on TV. McGregor did a similar trip in 2007 called "Long Way Down", which took him and the same travelling companion from the north of Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa.

36. Dance in a pit MOSH
Moshing (also “slam dancing”) is the pushing and shoving that takes place in the audience at a concert (usually a punk or heavy metal concert). The area directly in front of the stage is known as the mosh pit. When a performer does a "stage dive" it is into (or I suppose "onto") the mosh pit. It doesn't sound like fun to me. Injuries are commonplace in the mosh pit, and deaths are not unknown.

39. Mazda MX-5, familiarly MIATA
The Mazda MX-5 is sold as the Miata in North America, and as the Roadster in Japan. I've always liked the looks of the Mazda Miata, probably because it reminds me so much of old British sports cars. The Miata is built in Hiroshima, Japan.

43. __ Plaines DES
Des Plaines, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago that is located next to O’Hare International Airport. The city is named for the Des Plaines river that runs through the suburb.

44. Rockefeller Center centerpiece SKATING RINK
Rockefeller Center is actually made of nineteen buildings in Midtown Manhattan. The site was developed by John D. Rockefeller, who first leased the 22-acre lot back in 1928. The original plan was to build a new opera house for the Metropolitan Opera, but the stock market crash of 1929 led to those plans being canceled. Because of the Great Depression, Rockefeller was forced to fund the whole development project himself, a huge undertaking, but a very successful one.

53. Disney character with a white tail BAMBI
The 1942 Disney classic "Bambi" is based on a book written by Felix Salten called "Bambi, A Life in the Woods". There is a documented phenomenon known as the Bambi Effect, whereby people become more interested in animal rights after having watched the scene where Bambi's mother is shot by hunters.

56. Quartet of Wagnerian operas, and a hint to the progression in this puzzle's circled letters RING CYCLE
Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle" is more properly called "Der Ring des Nibelungen", and is composed of four very, very long operas. The individual operas are:

- "Das Rheingold"
- "Die Walkure"
- "Siegfried"
- "Gotterdammerung"

60. Bordeaux brainstorm IDEE
In French, one’s head (tête) might produce an idea (idée).

Bordeaux is perhaps the wine-production capital of the world. Wine has been produced in the area since the eighth century. Bordeaux has an administrative history too. During WWII, the French government relocated from Paris to the port city of Bordeaux when it became clear that Paris was soon to fall to the Germans. After the German's took France, the capital was famously moved to Vichy.

62. 2001 scandal subject ENRON
After all the trials following the exposure of fraud at Enron, several of the key players ended up in jail. Andrew Fastow was the Chief Financial Officer. He plea-bargained and received ten years without parole, and became the key witness in the trials of others. Even Fastow's wife was involved and she was sentenced to one year for helping her husband hide money. Jeffrey Skilling (ex-CEO) was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months. Kenneth Lay (CEO) died in 2006 after he had been found guilty but before he could be sentenced. The accounting firm Arthur Andersen was found guilty of obstruction of justice for shredding thousands of pertinent documents and deleting emails and files (a decision that the Supreme Court later overturned on a technicality). But still, Arthur Andersen collapsed under the weight of the scandal and 85,000 people lost their jobs (despite only a handful being directly involved with Enron).

63. Boilermaker component BEER
A boilermaker is a beer cocktail, a serving of beer mixed with a shot of whiskey, or sometimes a shot of tequila or vodka. If the whiskey is still in a shot glass when it’s dropped into the beer, then it’s known as a depth charge.

64. Prohibitionists DRYS
There were concerted efforts to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in the US from the 1840s right up until the lobbyists achieved success with ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution in 1919. While there were several factors that influenced legislators at that time, one was the perceived need to take political power away from German-based brewing industry during WWI.

65. City near Florence SIENA
Siena is a beautiful city in the Tuscany region of Italy. In the center of Siena is the magnificent medieval square called Piazza del Campo, a paved sloping open area made up of nine triangular sections. The square has to be seen to be believed. Twice a year, the famous bareback horse-race called the Palio di Siena is held in the Piazza.

Down
2. German actor Jannings EMIL
Emil Jannings was an actor from Switzerland, who also held German and Austrian citizenship. Jannings was the first person to receive an Oscar, as the star of the 1928 silent movie called "The Last Command". He also starred opposite Marlene Dietrich in the 1930 classic “The Blue Angel”.

3. Sommelier's asset NOSE
“Sommelier” is the French word for a wine steward. If that steward(ess) is a female, then the French term is “sommelière”.

5. Classic British two-seater MG MIDGET
My neighbor used to keep his MG Midget roadster in my garage (away from his kids!) back in Ireland many moons ago. The Midget was produced by MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1961 to 1979, with the MG acronym standing for “Morris Garages”.

6. Base cops, briefly MPS
The Military Police (MPs) often track down personnel who go AWOL (absent without leave).

7. __-Seltzer ALKA
Alka-Seltzer is a brand of fizzy antacid that has been marketed since 1931. In terms of ingredients, it is a mix of sodium bicarbonate, aspirin and anhydrous citric acid.

8. Corpuscle conduit VEIN
We usually think of a “corpuscle” as a blood cell, although the term actually applies to any free-floating biological cell. Coming from the Latin “corpusculum” meaning “puny, small body”, it ultimately derives from “corpus” meaning “body”.

9. Dreamy guy? SANDMAN
The sandman is a mythical character from folklore who is said to induce sleep and bring good dreams by sprinkling sand on the eyes of children.

11. Butter in a farmyard? GOAT
Males goats are called “bucks” or “billies”, although castrated males are known as “wethers”. Female goats are called “does” or “nannies”, and young goats are referred to as “kids”.

12. Africa's Great __ Valley RIFT
The Great Rift Valley is an imprecise geographical term that describes a trench that runs from northern Syria to central Mozambique in Africa.

24. Afternoon break SIESTA
We use the word “siesta” to describe a short nap in the early afternoon, taking the word from the Spanish. In turn, the Spanish word is derived from the Latin “hora sexta” meaning “the sixth hour”. The idea is that the nap is taken at “the sixth hour” after dawn.

26. Actor/singer Leto JARED
Jared Leto is an actor and musician. In the world of music, Leto is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. In the film world his most critically acclaimed role was that of a heroin addict in "Requiem for a Dream". He also appeared in "American Psycho", "Panic Room" and "Lord of War".

31. Raccoon kin COATI
A coati is a member of the raccoon family and is also known as the Brazilian aardvark, or the snookum bear. The coati is native to Central and South America, but can also be found in the southwest of the United States.

32. __ Martin: 007's car ASTON
Aston Martin is a British car manufacturer, founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin. The Aston part of the company name comes from Aston Hill, a famous site for hill-climbing cars that is nearby the original factory. Aston Martin cars are much loved by the British entertainment industry. James Bond was given one in “Goldfinger”, and Michael Caine drove one in the 1969 version of “The Italian Job”. Also, Roger Moore’s character drove a yellow Aston Martin in the seventies television show “The Persuaders!”.

James Bond is the creation of the writer Ian Fleming. Fleming “stole” the James Bond name from an American ornithologist. The number 007 was “stolen” from the real-life, 16th century English spy called John Dee. Dee would sign his reports to Queen Elizabeth I with a stylized "007" to indicate that the reports were for “her eyes only”.

33. Acknowledge in an Oscar speech, say THANK
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is the organization that gives the annual Academy Awards also known as the "Oscars". The root of the name "Oscar" is hotly debated, but what is agreed is that the award was officially named "Oscar" in 1939. The first Academy Awards were presented at a brunch in 1929 with an audience of just 29 people. The Awards ceremony is a slightly bigger event these days ...

41. Rock band Lynyrd __ SKYNYRD
Lynyrd Skynyrd is a southern rock band that formed in 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida as My Backyard. The name was changed to Leonard Skinnerd in 1969, and then to Lynyrd Skynyrd a few months later. The chosen name was a wry tribute to the member’s phys-ed teacher at high school, one Leonard Skinner. Lynyrd Skynyrd were most successful in the 1970s, when they recorded their two biggest hits: “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”. Sadly, three of the original band members were killed in a plane crash in 1977.

44. Legato's opp., in music STAC
Staccato is a musical direction signifying that notes should be played in a disconnected form. The opposite of staccato would be legato, long and continuous notes played very smoothly.

45. San Francisco's __ Hill NOB
Nob Hill is a very elevated and central location in the city of San Francisco. Because of its views of the surrounding city and environs, Nob Hill became a desirable place to live for the wealthy in the 1800s. The area is still one of San Francisco's most affluent neighborhoods and is home to upscale hotels as well as the magnificent Grace Cathedral. The name "Nob Hill" comes from the slang term for someone who is well-to-do, a "nob".

46. "Like a Rock" rocker SEGER
Bob Seger struggled as a performing artist right through the sixties and early seventies before becoming a commercial success in 1976 with the release of his album "Night Moves". Since then, Seger has recorded songs that have become classics, such as “Like a Rock”, "We've Got Tonight" and "Old Time Rock & Roll".

48. Chicago paper, for short TRIB
"The Chicago Tribune" was first published in 1847. The most famous edition of "The Trib" was probably in 1948 when the headline was "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN", on the occasion of that year's presidential election. When it turned out Truman had actually won, the victor picked up the paper with the erroneous headline and posed for photographs with it ... a famous, famous photo, that must have stuck in the craw of the editor at the time.

49. __-de-camp AIDE
“Aide-de-camp” is a French term that we have imported into English. The phrase translates to “field assistant” and usually applies to the most senior personal aide to a high-ranking military officer or head of state.

50. Bermuda shorts endpoint KNEE
The short trousers that we now known as Bermuda shorts were introduced by the British Army for wear in tropical climes. When there was a shortage of clothing during WWII in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, some local banks supplied their male employees with pants using the British military design. The employees were also issued knee-length socks to wear with the shorts. To this day, a dress shirt, tie and blazer with Bermuda shorts and knee-length socks is considered as appropriate business attire on the island.

51. One with an untouchable service ACER
“Aces” in tennis are untouchable services, services that cannot be returned.

57. PGA star from South Africa ELS
Ernie Els is a South African golfer. Els a big guy but he has an easy fluid golf swing that has earned him the nickname "The Big Easy". He is a former World No. 1 and has won four majors: the US Open (1994 & 1997) and the British Open (2002 & 2012).

59. Santa __ Mountains ANA
Southern California’s Santa Ana Mountains run southeast of Los Angeles. The range was named by Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà. Don Gaspar camped below the mountains in 1769 on July 26, the Feast of Saint Anne.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Fabric mimicked by jeggings DENIM
6. Dallas NBA team MAVS
10. Indian mausoleum city AGRA
14. In the company of AMONG
15. __ bargain PLEA
16. Fountain contribution COIN
17. Midler's "Divine" nickname MISS M
18. Burn unit procedure SKIN GRAFT
20. Allow to enter LET IN
22. Big name in auto racing ANDRETTI
23. Kerfuffles ADOS
25. Advanced degs. MAS
26. "Rogue Lawyer" novelist JOHN GRISHAM
31. Whiskas eater CAT
34. Pulitzer winner Walker ALICE
35. Actor McGregor EWAN
36. Dance in a pit MOSH
37. Hull fastener RIVET
38. Group SET
39. Mazda MX-5, familiarly MIATA
40. Big nights EVES
41. How-to component STEP
42. Follow, as a hunch ACT ON
43. __ Plaines DES
44. Rockefeller Center centerpiece SKATING RINK
46. Farm enclosure STY
47. Bit of naughtiness NO-NO
48. Doze TAKE A NAP
53. Disney character with a white tail BAMBI
56. Quartet of Wagnerian operas, and a hint to the progression in this puzzle's circled letters RING CYCLE
58. Regal headpiece TIARA
60. Bordeaux brainstorm IDEE
61. Down-to-earth REAL
62. 2001 scandal subject ENRON
63. Boilermaker component BEER
64. Prohibitionists DRYS
65. City near Florence SIENA

Down
1. Reservoir creator DAM
2. German actor Jannings EMIL
3. Sommelier's asset NOSE
4. Examples INSTANCES
5. Classic British two-seater MG MIDGET
6. Base cops, briefly MPS
7. __-Seltzer ALKA
8. Corpuscle conduit VEIN
9. Dreamy guy? SANDMAN
10. Lots of plots ACRES
11. Butter in a farmyard? GOAT
12. Africa's Great __ Valley RIFT
13. Naysayer ANTI
19. Light weight GRAM
21. Hide-hair link NOR
24. Afternoon break SIESTA
26. Actor/singer Leto JARED
27. Green hue OLIVE
28. Homes with buzzers HIVES
29. "Ni-i-ice!" SWEET!
30. Quaint headpiece accessory HATPIN
31. Raccoon kin COATI
32. __ Martin: 007's car ASTON
33. Acknowledge in an Oscar speech, say THANK
36. Barely-there dress MICROMINI
39. Powerful people MAGNATES
41. Rock band Lynyrd __ SKYNYRD
44. Legato's opp., in music STAC
45. San Francisco's __ Hill NOB
46. "Like a Rock" rocker SEGER
48. Chicago paper, for short TRIB
49. __-de-camp AIDE
50. Bermuda shorts endpoint KNEE
51. One with an untouchable service ACER
52. Word with fair or foul PLAY
54. Unadorned BARE
55. Fairway choice IRON
57. PGA star from South Africa ELS
59. Santa __ Mountains ANA


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
7. Mass robes ALBS
An alb is a white, neck-to-toe vestment worn by priests, usually with a rope cord around the waist. The term alb comes from "albus", the Latin word for "white".

11. __ time TEE
A “tee time” is a reservation made at a golf course to start a round of golf (“tee off”) at a particular time.

14. Madrid-based airline IBERIA
The airline called Iberia is the flag carrier for Spain and is based in the country’s capital city at Madrid-Barajas Airport.

15. Bantu language ZULU
There are hundreds of Bantu languages, mainly spoken in central, east and southern Africa. The most commonly spoken Bantu language is Swahili, with Zulu coming in second.

16. Keats'"still unravish'd bride of quietness"URN
Here’s the first verse of the poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats:

THOU still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

17. *Big-time MAJOR-LEAGUE (giving “John Major”)
Sir John Major succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Conservative Party leader in 1990 and was Prime Minister of Britain until 1997. 1997 was the year that Tony Blair swept to power as leader of the Labour Party.

20. Topeka-to-Peoria dir. ENE
Topeka is the capital of Kansas, and is located on the Kansas River in the northeast of the state. The name “Topeka” was chosen in 1855 and translates from the Kansa and the Ioway languages as “to dig good potatoes”. The reference isn’t to the common potato but rather to the herb known as the prairie potato (also “prairie turnip”), which was an important food for many Native Americans.

Peoria is the oldest European settlement in the state of Illinois, having been settled by the French in 1680. The city is famous for being cited as “the average American city”. The phrase, “Will it play in Peoria?” is used to mean, “Will it appeal to the mainstream?” It is believed the expression originated as a corruption of, “We shall play in Peoria”, a line used by some actors in the 1890 novel "Five Hundred Dollars" by Horatio Alger, Jr.

22. Rwandan ethnic group HUTU
The Tutsi are the second largest population of people in Rwanda, with the Hutu being the largest group. The bloody conflict that has existed between the Tutsi and Hutu peoples dates back to about 1880 when Catholic missionaries arrived in the region. The missionaries found that they had more success converting the Hutus than the Tutsi, and when the Germans occupied the area during WWI they confiscated Tutsi land and gave it to Hutu tribes in order to reward religious conversion. This injustice fuels fighting to this very day.

23. Reporter's query HOW?
The Five Ws (or “Five Ws and one H”) is a journalistic concept used for gathering information. For a story to be complete, six questions need to be answered:

- Who is it about?
- What happened?
- Where did it take place?
- When did it take place?
- Why did it happen?
- How did it happen?

25. Pundits SAGES
A pundit is a learned person who one might turn to for an opinion. “Pundit” is derived from the Hindi word “payndit” meaning “learned man”.

27. Baseball commissioner before Manfred SELIG
Bud Selig was the Commissioner of Baseball for Major League Baseball from 1998 to 2015. Selig became acting commissioner in 1992 after the resignation of Fay Vincent. The team owners searched for a new commissioner for six years, and finally gave the permanent job to Selig in 1998.

30. *Local legend sought in a 1999 horror film BLAIR WITCH (giving “Tony Blair”)
“The Blair Witch Project” is a 1999 horror film with an unusual twist in terms of structure. It’s about three young filmmakers who hike into the Black Hills in Maryland looking for the legendary Blair Witch. The three disappear, with only the disturbing footage they recorded being left behind. It is this “real footage” that is used to make the film.

Tony Blair was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for ten years, from 1997 to 2007. Blair led his Labour Party from the left towards the center, helped along by the phrase “New Labour”. Under his leadership, Labour won a landslide victory in 1997, and was comfortably elected into power again in 2001 and 2005. Blair stepped down in 2007 and Gordon Blair took over as prime minister. Labour was soundly defeated at the polls in the next general election, in 2010.

32. Round building SILO
“Silo” is a Spanish word that we absorbed into English, originally coming from the Greek word "siros" that described a pit in which one kept corn.

35. Most swanky POSHEST
No one really knows the etymology of the word "posh". The popular myth that POSH stands for "Port Out, Starboard Home" is completely untrue, and is a story that can actually be traced back to the 1968 movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". The myth is that wealthy British passengers travelling to and from India would book cabins on the port side for the outward journey and the starboard side for the home journey. This trick was supposedly designed to keep their cabins out of the direct sunlight.

41. __ card ATM
ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)

42. Ancient greeting AVE
“Ave” is a Latin word meaning “hail” as in “Ave Maria”, which translates as “Hail Mary”. “Ave” can also be used to mean “goodbye”.

43. 1986 #1 hit for Starship SARA
The sixties folk group called Jefferson Airplane gave rise to two spin-off groups that were founded by former Jefferson Airplane band members. The first was Jefferson Starship, and the second was Starship. Confusing, huh?

44. *Oatmeal sweetener BROWN SUGAR (giving “Gordon Brown”)
Gordon Brown took over as prime minister of Britain after his Tony Blair stepped down from office in 2007. Scotsman Brown has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for the whole of Blair’s ten-year term. Brown served as PM until 2010 when the Labour Party lost a huge number of seats, allowing a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition come to power.

48. Bamboozle SNOW
It's thought that the lovely word "bamboozle" came into English from the Scottish "bombaze" meaning "perplex". We've been using "bamboozle" since the very early 1700s.

49. Sri __ LANKA
The name Sri Lanka translates from Sanskrit into English as "venerable island". Before 1970, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, a name given to the country during British rule.

52. MD for women GYN
Gynecologist (gyn.)

53. Old French coins ECUS
The ecu is an Old French coin. When introduced in 1640, the ecu was worth three livres (an older coin, called a "pound" in English). The word "ecu" comes from the Latin "scutum" meaning "shield". The original ecu had a coat of arms on it, a shield.

54. Cantina crock OLLA
An olla is a traditional clay pot used for the making of stews. “Olla” was the Latin word used in Ancient Rome to describe a similar type of pot.

57. St. whose motto is "Forward"WIS
Wisconsin’s state motto was chosen in an 1848 conversation between Governor Nelson Dewey and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Edward Ryan. The pair considered copying New York State’s “Excelsior”, before ruminating on “Upward” and “Onward”. They finally settled on “Forward”, and it has endured to this day.

58. *She voiced Princess Fiona in "Shrek" movies CAMERON DIAZ (giving “David Cameron”)
The Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz started out her professional life as a model. Diaz’s first acting role was in the 1994 film “The Mask”, starring alongside Jim Carrey.

Princess Fiona is the love interest in the “Shrek” series of films. Before "Shrek" was a successful movie franchise and Broadway musical, it was a children's picture book called "Shrek!" authored and illustrated by William Steig. The title "Shrek!" came from the German/Yiddish word Schreck, meaning "fear" or "terror".

David Cameron is the Prime Minister of the UK, after a cliffhanger of a general election in May of 2010. The Labor Party, led for so many years by Tony Blair and then by Gordon Brown after Blair stepped down, lost the majority of seats in Parliament and the Conservatives emerged with the most seats. However, the Liberal Democrats, led by Nick Clegg, had enough seats to hold the balance of power. Cameron had to agree to form a coalition government in order to rule, with Nick Clegg holding the office of Deputy Prime Minister.

64. Very cold period ICE AGE
Ice ages are periods in the Earth’s history when there are extensive ice sheets present in the northern and southern hemispheres. One might argue that we are still in an ice age that began 2.6 million years ago, as evidenced by the presence of ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica.

65. Brit. leaders, the last four of whom begin the answers to starred clues PMS
The Prime Minister (PM) of the UK has powers equivalent to the US President, but with major differences. The office of prime minister exists by convention and not by any constitution. The convention is that the King or Queen of England appoints as PM the person most likely to have the confidence of the House of Commons, and that person is usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the Commons. There is no term limit and the PM serves “at his/her majesty’s pleasure”. The first UK PM wasn’t actually called “Prime Minister” and the person first attributed with the equivalent powers was Sir Robert Walpole, the First Lord of the Treasury in 1721. The incumbent PM is David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party.

67. Parable feature LESSON
A “parable” is story told to illustrate a lesson or principle. It is similar to a fable, differing in that a fable uses mainly animals as characters, and a parable uses humans.

Down
2. Its first champion was the Pitt. Pipers ABA
The American Basketball Association (ABA) merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976. The ABA used a ball with the colors red, white and blue. The NBA uses a more traditional orange ball.

The Pittsburgh Pipers were a charter team in the American Basketball Association (ABA). The Pipers emerged as the ABA’s first champion, at the end of the 1967-1968 season. The following year, the Pipers moved to Minnesota but returned to Pittsburgh after only one season. A change of ownership in 1970 led to a name change to the Pittsburgh Condors. The Condors folded in 1972.

4. Waffle __ IRON
You can’t get a Belgian waffle in Belgium, and the nearest thing is probably a Brussels waffle. Brussels waffles were introduced to the world in 1958, and arrived in the US in 1962 at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle. The name “Brussels” was changed to “Bel-Gem” for the US market, which evolved into “Belgian”.

5. Flags TIRES
Our verb “to flag” meaning “to tire” was originally used in the sense of something flapping about lazily in the wind. From this it came to mean “to go limp, droop”, and then “to tire”.

6. Tessio in "The Godfather"SAL
Sal Tessio is a character in Mario Puzo’s novel “The Godfather”. Tessio become a high-ranking confidante in Don Corleone’s crime organization. The character was played in the Francis Ford Coppola film by actor Abe Vigoda.

7. Rhododendron varieties AZALEAS
Azaleas are very toxic to horses, sheep and goats, but strangely enough cause no problem for cats or dogs. And if you go to Korea you might come across "Tug Yonju", which is azalea wine made from the plant's blossoms.

Rhododendron is a genus of woody plants, usually with showy flowers. The rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal, where the bloom is also considered edible.

8. Star of "Dracula" (1931) LUGOSI
Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian stage and screen actor, best known for playing the title role in the 1931 film "Dracula" and for playing the same role on Broadway. Lugosi found himself typecast for the rest of his career and almost always played the role of the villain, often in horror movies. When he passed away in 1956, his wife had him buried in the costume he wore playing Count Dracula on Broadway.

9. Risqué BLUE
“Risqué” is a French word, the past participle of the verb “to risk”. So in English we use “risqué” to mean “racy”, but in French it means “risky”.

11. Ruckus TUMULT
The word “ruckus” is used to mean a commotion, and has been around since the late 1800s. "Ruckus" is possibly a melding of the words “ruction” and “rumpus”.

18. Aerie fledgling EAGLET
An aerie is the nest of an eagle, and is also known as an “eyrie”.

22. Many a soap heroine HEIRESS
The original soap operas were radio dramas back in the fifties. Given the structure of society back then, the daytime broadcasts were aimed at housewives working in the home. For some reason the sponsors of those radio shows, and the television shows that followed, were soap manufacturers like Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Lever Brothers. And that's how the "soap" opera got its name ...

24. Where Lima is OHIO
Lima is a city located in northwestern Ohio, about 70 miles north of Dayton. The city is home to the Lima Army Tank Plant, where the M1 Abrams battle tank is produced. Lima is also home to the fictional William McKinley High School that is the setting for the TV series “Glee”.

26. Deep gulfs ABYSMS
“Abysm” is an alternative word for “abyss”.

27. Adult cygnet SWAN
An adult male swan is called a “cob”, and an adult female is a “pen”. Young swans are called “swanlings” or “cygnets”.

29. Mostly-shaved-head hairstyles MOHAWKS
Here is another example of a difference in terminology on either side of the Atlantic. What we call the Mohawk hairstyle in the US is known as a "Mohican" in the British Isles. The Mohawk hairstyle is named after the Mohawk nation, who wore their hair in the same fashion. The Mohawk style has been around for a long time elsewhere in the world. There was a well-preserved male body found in a bog near Dublin in Ireland in 2003. The body is about 2,000 years old, and has the Mohawk haircut.

31. Classical guitar family name ROMERO
The Romeros are a classical and flamenco guitar quartet. The group was founded and led by Celedonio Romero in 1960, and originally included three of his sons: Ángel, Celin and Pepe.

36. Volcano near Catania ETNA
Catania is the second largest city on the island of Sicily (after Palermo). Catania has a long and rich cultural history, and today is best known as a center for technology industries earning it the nickname of the "European Silicon Valley". The Catania skyline features a nice view of the nearby Mount Etna volcano.

37. Online icon AVATAR
The Sanskrit word "avatar" describes the concept of a deity descending into earthly life and taking on a persona. It's easy to see how in the world of "online presences" one might use the word avatar to describe one's online identity.

38. Fruity wine drinks SANGRIAS
Sangria is red wine punch, usually associated with Portugal and Spain. Recipes for sangria vary, but almost all include a robust red wine, sliced fruit, something sweet (e.g. orange juice, sugar), a spirit (e.g. brandy, triple sec), carbonated water or perhaps 7up, and ice. The drink is named for its color, as “sangre” is the Spanish for blood.

39. City fooled by a horse TROY
The story of the Wooden Horse of Troy is told in the Virgil’s poem “The Aeneid”. According to the tale, the city of Troy finally fell to Greeks after a siege that had lasted for ten years. In a ruse, the Greeks sailed away in apparent defeat, leaving behind a large wooden horse. Inside the horse were hidden 30 crack soldiers. When the horse was dragged into the city as a victory trophy, the soldiers sneaked out and opened the city’s gates. The Greeks returned under cover of night and entered the open city.

42. Not ephemeral AGELESS
"Ephemera" was originally a medical term, used to describe a fever that only lasted a day. The use of the term was expanded in the 17th century to include insects that were "short-lived", and by end of the 18th century "ephemera" were any things of transitory existence.

45. "To Kill a Mockingbird" theme RACISM
Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" was first published in 1960. The book is a mainstay in English classes all around the world and is a great ambassador for American literature, I'd say.

47. Tracey of sketch comedy ULLMAN
Tracey Ullman is an outrageous comic actress from the UK. She moved to the US and brought out her own series in the late eighties called “The Tracey Ullman Show”. Famously, it was from “The Tracey Ullman Show” that “The Simpsons” was spun off in 1989.

51. '30s V.P. John __ Garner NANCE
John Nance Garner was Speaker of the House when he ran against New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination for the presidential race in 1932. When it was clear that Roosevelt was to win the nomination, Garner cut a deal with FDR and joined the ticket as candidate for Vice President. When the two Democrats won, they were sworn into office on March 4, 1933. As he was still Speaker of the House at the time, Garner is the only person to have held the office of both Speaker and Vice President on the same day.

54. Pearl Harbor site OAHU
The US Navy’s presence in Pearl Harbor dates back to 1899.

56. March time? IDES
There were three important days in each month of the old Roman calendar. These days originally depended on the cycles of the moon but were eventually "fixed" by law. "Kalendae" were the first days of each month, originally the days of the new moon. "Nonae" were originally the days of the half moon. And "idus" (the ides) was originally the day of the full moon, eventually fixed at the 15th day of a month. Well, actually the ides were the 15th day of March, May, July and October. For all other months, the ides fell on the 13th. Go figure ...

59. Wildcatter's find OIL
“Wildcatter” is a familiar term for someone who drills what are called “wildcat wells”, speculative wells in areas that are not previously known to yield oil.

61. __ master ZEN
Zen is a Buddhist school that developed its own tradition in China back in the 7th century AD. Zen is a Japanese spelling of the Chinese word "chan", which in turn derives from the Sanskrit word "dhyana" meaning "meditation".

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Regular patterns HABITS
7. Mass robes ALBS
11. __ time TEE
14. Madrid-based airline IBERIA
15. Bantu language ZULU
16. Keats'"still unravish'd bride of quietness" URN
17. *Big-time MAJOR-LEAGUE (giving “John Major”)
19. Barnyard noise MOO
20. Topeka-to-Peoria dir. ENE
21. Spiny houseplant ALOE
22. Rwandan ethnic group HUTU
23. Reporter's query HOW?
25. Pundits SAGES
27. Baseball commissioner before Manfred SELIG
28. "May I get a word in?" AHEM
30. *Local legend sought in a 1999 horror film BLAIR WITCH (giving “Tony Blair”)
32. Round building SILO
33. Thumbs-up YES
34. Low-tech propeller OAR
35. Most swanky POSHEST
37. Whistleblower's request AMNESTY
41. __ card ATM
42. Ancient greeting AVE
43. 1986 #1 hit for Starship SARA
44. *Oatmeal sweetener BROWN SUGAR (giving “Gordon Brown”)
48. Bamboozle SNOW
49. Sri __ LANKA
50. Pretend LET ON
52. MD for women GYN
53. Old French coins ECUS
54. Cantina crock OLLA
55. Something to come up for AIR
57. St. whose motto is "Forward" WIS
58. *She voiced Princess Fiona in "Shrek" movies CAMERON DIAZ (giving “David Cameron”)
62. Press into service USE
63. Cries of clarity AHAS
64. Very cold period ICE AGE
65. Brit. leaders, the last four of whom begin the answers to starred clues PMS
66. Bakery output BUNS
67. Parable feature LESSON

Down
1. Finger-pointing pronoun HIM
2. Its first champion was the Pitt. Pipers ABA
3. Decorates, as a royal crown BEJEWELS
4. Waffle __ IRON
5. Flags TIRES
6. Tessio in "The Godfather" SAL
7. Rhododendron varieties AZALEAS
8. Star of "Dracula" (1931) LUGOSI
9. Risqué BLUE
10. Seek damages SUE
11. Ruckus TUMULT
12. Hot EROTIC
13. Just the right amount ENOUGH
18. Aerie fledgling EAGLET
22. Many a soap heroine HEIRESS
23. Briefcase fastener HASP
24. Where Lima is OHIO
26. Deep gulfs ABYSMS
27. Adult cygnet SWAN
29. Mostly-shaved-head hairstyles MOHAWKS
31. Classical guitar family name ROMERO
36. Volcano near Catania ETNA
37. Online icon AVATAR
38. Fruity wine drinks SANGRIAS
39. City fooled by a horse TROY
40. Betray boredom YAWN
42. Not ephemeral AGELESS
44. Hit the roof BLEW UP
45. "To Kill a Mockingbird" theme RACISM
46. Burdens ONUSES
47. Tracey of sketch comedy ULLMAN
51. '30s V.P. John __ Garner NANCE
54. Pearl Harbor site OAHU
56. March time? IDES
58. Hailed transport CAB
59. Wildcatter's find OIL
60. In times past AGO
61. __ master ZEN


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Walks, on scorecards BBS
In baseball, a “walk” is recorded as “BB”, standing for “base on balls”.

4. Rehab hurdle DTS
The episodes of delirium that can accompany withdrawal from alcohol are called Delirium Tremens (the DTs). The literal translation of this Latin phrase is "trembling madness".

15. Ducks' home ANAHEIM
The Walt Disney Company founded the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim hockey team in 1993, with the franchise’s name being a nod to the 1992 Disney movie called “The Mighty Ducks”. The name was changed to the Anaheim Ducks when Disney sold the team before the 2006-2007 season.

16. Some Anne Rice novels EROTICA
Anne Rice is an American author of erotic and Gothic novels. She was born Howard Allen O'Brien (no wonder she changed her name!). Her famous series of novels "The Vampire Chronicles" centers on her character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman who was turned into a vampire in the 18th century. One of the stories, "Interview with the Vampire", was adapted for the big screen in 1994 and features Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and others in a star-studded cast. Not my kind of movie though, as I don't do vampires …

18. Dupes XEROXES
Xerox was founded in 1906 in Rochester, New York and originally made photographic paper and equipment. Real success came for the company in 1959 when it introduced the first plain-paper photocopier. Xerox named Ursula Burns as CEO in 2009, the first African American woman to head up a S&P 100 company. Burn was also the first woman to succeed another female CEO (replacing Anne Mulcahy).

19. *Assist Charles M. Schulz? WORK FOR PEANUTS
Charles M. Schulz was a cartoonist best known for his comic strip “Peanuts” that featured the much-loved characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy. “Peanuts” was so successful, running daily in over 70 countries and 21 languages, that it earned Schulz an estimated 30-40 million dollars annually.

22. Wapiti ELK
The elk (also known as the wapiti) is the one of the largest species of deer in the world, with only the moose being bigger. Early European settlers were familiar with the smaller red deer back in their homelands, so when they saw the "huge" wapiti they assumed it was a moose, and incorrectly gave it the European name for a moose, namely "elk". The more correct name for the beast is "wapiti", which means "white rump" in Shawnee. It's all very confusing ...

23. ID checker 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.

24. "__ any drop to drink": Coleridge NOR
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is an epic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge first published in 1798. The publication of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is said to mark the beginning of the Romantic period of British literature. Perhaps the lines most often quoted from the poem are:

Water, water, every where,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, every where
Nor any drop to drink

32. *Free ticket given to Target Field players? PASS FOR TWINS
Target Field is a baseball park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home to the Minnesota Twins since the stadium opening in 2010. Target Corporation paid an undisclosed sum to get the naming rights of the park. The Target Corporation is headquartered in Minneapolis.

35. Burn soothers ALOES
Aloe vera has a number of alternate names that are descriptive of its efficacy as a medicine. These include the First Aid plant, Wand of Heaven, Silent Healer and Miracle Plant.

38. Modern reaction to a riot? LOL
Laugh out loud (LOL, in text-speak)

39. Group of species GENUS
Taxonomy is the classification of organisms or maybe even just items into groups or categories. We are most familiar with the classification of organisms in the major taxonomic ranks of:

- Life
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species

43. Important Philippines export NICKEL
Nickel is a silver-white metal. It is thought that the Earth’s core is largely made of a mixture of iron and nickel. The metal’s name comes from German mythology, in which Nickel (equivalent to “Old Nick”) was a mischievous sprite. When German copper miners found nickel-containing ore that resembled ore rich in copper, they blamed Nickel for the fact that they could not extract any copper. According to 2012 numbers, the Philippines have the largest supplies of nickel ore in the world, with Indonesia and Australia coming in second and third.

45. Fraction of a joule ERG
An erg is a unit of mechanical work or energy. It is a small unit, as there are 10 million ergs in one joule. it has been suggested that an erg is about the amount of energy required for a mosquito to take off.

50. "My vegetable love should grow / __ than empires ... ": Andrew Marvell VASTER
“To His Coy Mistress” is a mid-17th century love poem by English metaphysical poet and politician Andrew Marvell. The poem is a famous “carpe diem” work, in which he pleads with a woman he loves to refrain from spurning him and to respond to his advances. Marvell wants her to “seize the day”.

My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow;
A hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.

59. Home of the god Pan ARCADIA
Pan was the god of shepherds in Greek mythology, and lived in the rustic surroundings of Arcadia. Arcadia was a mountainous region of Ancient Greece, well known for the innocence and contentment of its people who lived a simple, pastoral life. Arcadia has been used ever since as the name of a place offering peace and simplicity.

62. Inning trio ENS
There is a trio of letters N (ens) in the word “inning”.

Down
3. Fan letter? SHORT A
There is a short letter A in the middle of the word “fan”.

5. Industry leaders TYCOONS
Our term “tycoon” meaning powerful business person was originally used by foreigners to describe the shogun of Japan. “Tycoon” was an anglicization of the Japanese “taikun” meaning “great lord or prince”.

7. Converse, e.g. SNEAKER
The Converse shoe company was founded in Malden, Massachusetts in 1908 by one Marquis Mills Converse. The company grew steadily, and introduced its first athletic shoe in 1915, a shoe designed for playing tennis. The Converse brand really took off in 1917 with the launch of a shoe designed especially for basketball, which was called the “All Star”. Basketball player Chuck Taylor really liked the new design and was hired by Converse as a salesman and a spokesman. Taylor suggested a refinement to the design, including a patch on the side to protect the ankle. A star logo (representing the “All-Star” brand) was added to the patch, with Chuck Taylor’s signature being added to the logo as an endorsement in 1923. The Chuck Taylor All-Star became the best selling basketball shoe of all time, and the star became the logo for the Converse company.

9. Quaker pronoun THOU
Members of the Religious Society of Friends are known as “Friends” or “Quakers”. The Christian sect started in England in the 1640s, led by George Fox. The principal tenet at that point was that Christians could have direct experience of Jesus Christ without the mediation of clergy, a reflection of the increasing dissatisfaction with the established church at that time. The term “Quaker” is thought to have been used earlier in reference to foreign religious sects whose followers were given to fits of shaking during religious fervor. Somehow that term became used for members of the Religious Society of Friends.

12. Acute care letters EMS
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

15. Eponymous skater Paulsen AXEL
An Axel is a forward take-off jump in figure skating. It was first performed by Norwegian Axel Paulsen at the 1882 World Figure Skating championships.

17. Ring decision TKO
In boxing, a knockout (KO) is when one of the fighters can't get up from the canvas within a specified time, usually 10 seconds. This can be due to fatigue, injury, or the participant may be truly "knocked out".

25. Home of Norway's royal family OSLO
The Norwegian monarchs live in the Royal Palace in Oslo, a magnificent 173-room building that was completed in 1849. The current monarch, King Harald V, spent a lot of money on renovations, and the public has been able to tour to the restored palace since 2002.

27. Bank holding: Abbr. MTGE
Our word “mortgage” comes from the Old French “mort gaige” which translated as “dead pledge”. The idea was that a pledge to repay a loan dies when the debt is cleared.

29. __ Tin Tin RIN
The original Rin Tin Tin was a real-life dog, a puppy discovered by a GI in a bombed-out kennel in France during WWI. The soldier named the pup Rin Tin Tin, the same name as a puppet given to American soldiers for luck. On returning to the US, "Rinty" was trained by his owner and was spotted doing tricks by a film producer. Rinty featured in some films, eventually getting his first starring role in 1923 in the silent movie "Where the North Begins". Legend has it that this first Rin Tin Tin died in the arms of actress Jean Harlow. Not a bad way to go ...

30. Shaggy-tailed bovid GNU
A gnu is also known as a wildebeest, and is an antelope native to Africa. "Wildebeest" is actually the Dutch word for "wild beast".

A bovid is an animal in the family Bovidae. Bovids are ruminants with hoofs and hollow horns, such as cattle, sheep and goats.

31. First of September? ESS
The first letter in the word “September” is a letter S (ess).

32. Lot of trouble? PECK
A “peck” is a dry measure equal to a quarter of a bushel. The term can be used figuratively to mean a considerable quantity in general, as in the phrase “a peck of trouble”.

33. "A Hard Road to Glory" writer ASHE
“A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African-American Athlete” is a 1988 book by tennis star Arthur Ashe. Published in three volumes, Ashe researched for almost six years with a team to put the book together. Ashe stated publicly that he valued “A Hard Road to Glory” more than any of his tennis titles.

34. Merrie __ England OLDE
The word "olde" wasn't actually used much earlier than the 1920s. "Olde" was introduced to give a quaint antique feel to brand names, shop names etc.

35. Plant bristle AWN
“Awn” is the name given to hair or bristle-like structures found in numerous species of plants. In some species, like barley, the awns can contain photosynthetic tissue.

36. French narrative poem LAI
In the mid-13th century a “lay” was a short song. “Lay” evolved from the Old French word "lai" meaning "song, lyric".

37. Like some stocks, briefly OTC
The NASDAQ trading system created in 1971 is the successor to the over-the-counter (OTC) trading system that was common at the time. OTC trading is done directly between two parties without being facilitated by an exchange.

42. Surround ENVIRON
"Environ" is the French word for "round" or "round about". We use “environ” as a verb in English, meaning to surround, form a circle around. The related plural noun “environs” is used to mean “surroundings, environment”.

45. Rachmaninoff's "__-tableaux"ETUDES
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Études-tableaux” (meaning “study pictures”) is a set of piano études written in 1911.

Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian pianist and composer active in the late Romantic Era. Rachmaninoff emigrated from Russia in 1917, driven away by the Russian Revolution. He eventually settled in the US where he toured as a pianist for many years. Rachmaninoff’s most famous works are probably his “Piano Concerto No. 1” and his “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”.

46. Light-sensitive layer RETINA
The retina is the tissue that lines the inside of the eye, the tissue that is light-sensitive. There are (mainly) two types of cell in the retina that are sensitive to light, called rods and cones. Rods are cells that best function in very dim light and only provide black-and-white vision. Cones on the other hand function in brighter light and can perceive color.

47. __ spoon GREASY
“Greasy spoon” is a familiar term for a restaurant, usually a diner, that is less than pristine and that serves cheap food.

49. Upholstered piece SOFA
"Sofa" is a Turkish word meaning "bench".

51. Fancy tie ASCOT
An Ascot tie is a horrible-looking (I think!) wide tie that narrows at the neck, which these days is only really worn at weddings. The tie takes its name from the Royal Ascot horse race at which punters still turn up in formal wear at Ascot Racecourse in England.

53. Derby, perhaps RACE
Our use of the word “derby” to mean a race started in 1780 with the English Derby horse race, which was founded then by the 12th Earl of Derby. Ultimately, the term “derby” derives from the old English shire of “Deorby”, a word meaning “deer village”.

56. Speck MOTE
"Mote" is another word for a speck of dust.

57. It may be mined DATA
The process of data mining is used to extract information from a database and present it in a form that facilitates further use.

58. Objective reference HIM
“Him” is the objective form of the pronoun “he”.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Walks, on scorecards BBS
4. Rehab hurdle DTS
7. Calm SETTLE
13. "Well, __-di-dah!" LAH
14. Deli choice RYE
15. Ducks' home ANAHEIM
16. Some Anne Rice novels EROTICA
18. Dupes XEROXES
19. *Assist Charles M. Schulz? WORK FOR PEANUTS
21. Completely IN TOTO
22. Wapiti ELK
23. ID checker TSA
24. "__ any drop to drink": Coleridge NOR
26. Surface EMERGE
32. *Free ticket given to Target Field players? PASS FOR TWINS
35. Burn soothers ALOES
38. Modern reaction to a riot? LOL
39. Group of species GENUS
40. *Timepiece at a stag party? WATCH FOR DEER
43. Important Philippines export NICKEL
44. Bros, e.g. MEN
45. Fraction of a joule ERG
48. Not allow to atrophy USE
50. "My vegetable love should grow / __ than empires ... ": Andrew Marvell VASTER
53. *Law office? ROOM FOR DISPUTE
58. Option play option, in football HANDOFF
59. Home of the god Pan ARCADIA
60. Beverage sometimes served with mint ICED TEA
61. Besides TOO
62. Inning trio ENS
63. Botched (up) MESSED
64. Model of industry ANT
65. Put into words SAY

Down
1. Failed miserably BLEW IT
2. Industry leaders BARONS
3. Fan letter? SHORT A
4. Meaning DRIFT
5. Industry leaders TYCOONS
6. Prepare tuna, in a way SEAR
7. Converse, e.g. SNEAKER
8. Take in EARN
9. Quaker pronoun THOU
10. It may be skillfully created by one who's all thumbs TEXT
11. Rests LIES
12. Acute care letters EMS
15. Eponymous skater Paulsen AXEL
17. Ring decision TKO
20. One putting on an act PERFORMER
25. Home of Norway's royal family OSLO
27. Bank holding: Abbr. MTGE
28. Carafe kin EWER
29. __ Tin Tin RIN
30. Shaggy-tailed bovid GNU
31. First of September? ESS
32. Lot of trouble? PECK
33. "A Hard Road to Glory" writer ASHE
34. Merrie __ England OLDE
35. Plant bristle AWN
36. French narrative poem LAI
37. Like some stocks, briefly OTC
41. Misspoke, as lines FLUFFED
42. Surround ENVIRON
45. Rachmaninoff's "__-tableaux" ETUDES
46. Light-sensitive layer RETINA
47. __ spoon GREASY
49. Upholstered piece SOFA
51. Fancy tie ASCOT
52. Hotel amenity SPA
53. Derby, perhaps RACE
54. Some bills ONES
55. Chances ODDS
56. Speck MOTE
57. It may be mined DATA
58. Objective reference HIM


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
5. JFK Library architect PEI
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is a splendid structure located right beside the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts. President Kennedy chose the location for his library just one week before he was assassinated. The library itself was designed by architect I. M. Pei.

8. "The Well-Tempered Clavier" composer JS BACH
J. S. Bach composed a set of 24 preludes and fugues published as a book in 1722, intended to be used as exercises for students of music. He composed another set of 24 in 1742, and the whole collection is today known as the "Well-Tempered Clavier", the title of the original book. A “clavier” is a keyboard of a musical instrument.

15. In abundance, in slang UP THE WAZOO
The slang term “up the wazoo” means to have plenty. It’s pretty vulgar slang and is a specific anatomical reference so I don’t think it belongs in the crossword myself …

17. Data lead-in META-
“Metadata” is usually defined as “data about data”. The classic example is the card catalog of a library. The catalog is a set of data about a collection of books. Each entry in the catalog is data about a specific publication.

18. Flowerlike marine creature SEA ANEMONE
The name "anemone" means "daughter of the wind" in Greek, and at one time it was believed that the wind was what actually caused the flower to bloom. The sea anemone is named for the terrestrial plant even though it isn't a plant at all. The sea anemone is a predatory animal found on the ocean floor.

19. Latin 101 word ERAT
“Esse” is the Latin for “to be”. “Sum” means “I am” and “erat” means “he, she was”.

20. Bear's call SELL!
The terms "bull" and "bear" markets come from the way in which each animal attacks. A bull thrusts his horns upwards (an "up" market), whereas a bear swipes with his paws downward (a "down" market).

34. Ammo for Moe PIES
Moe Howard, of the Three Stooges, was an expert at tossing a pie in someone’s ace.

36. Peloponnesian War side SPARTA
Sparta was a city-state in ancient Greece, famous for her military might. Spartan children had a tough upbringing, and newborn babies were bathed in wine to see if the child was strong enough to survive. Every child was presented to a council of elders that decided if the baby was suitable for rearing. Those children deemed too puny were executed by tossing them into a chasm. We’ve been using the term “spartan” to describe something self-disciplined or austere since the 1600s.

The Peloponnesian War was fought from 431 to 404 BC between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Prior to the war, Athens was the strongest city-state in Greece. After the victory by the Peloponnesian League, Sparta emerged as the leading power.

41. "Downton Abbey" title EARL
In the incredibly successful period drama “Downton Abbey", the patriarch of the family living at Downton is Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham or Lord Grantham. The character is played by Hugh Bonneville. Lord Grantham married American Cora Levinson (played by Elizabeth McGovern. Lord and Lady Grantham had three daughters, and no son. The lack of a male heir implied that the Grantham estate would pass to a male cousin, and out of the immediate family. The Grantham daughters are Lady Mary (played by Michelle Dockery), Lady Edith (played by Laura Carmichael) and Lady Sybil (played by Jessica Brown Findlay). Lady Sybil had the audacity to marry the family chauffeur, an Irish nationalist. The shame of it all …

42. "City of the Beasts" author Allende 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.

46. Tommy Pickles' younger brother on "Rugrats"DIL
Tommy Pickles is the protagonist on the Nickelodeon cartoon show “Rugrats”. Dil Pickles is Tommy’s younger brother.

47. Vitamin A form RETINOL
Retinol is a form of vitamin A. Retinol helps keep skin healthy.

49. Infect with the T-virus, in "Resident Evil" films ZOMBIFY
A zombie is a corpse that has been brought back to life by some mystical means. Our modern use of the term largely stems from the undead creatures featured in the 1968 horror movie called “Night of the Living Dead”. Now that film, I haven’t seen and probably never will …

“Resident Evil” is a whole media franchise spawned from a video game that was launched in 1996. Now there are films, comic books, novels and more games. The series originated in Japan, although over the series goes by the name of “Biohazard”.

53. Melody and Millie, to Minnie Mouse NIECES
Minnie Mouse is the son of farmer Marcus Mouse. Two of her grandparents are Marshal Mouse and Matilda Mouse. Minnie also has an Uncle Mortimer Mouse, as well as twin nieces Millie and Melody Mouse. Minnie’s boyfriend is Mickey Mouse.

54. Earth pigment OCHRE
“Ochre” is often spelled "ocher" in the US (it's "ochre" where I come from). Ocher is a light, yellowy-brown color, although variations of the pigment are possible such as red ocher and purple ocher.

58. Jargon CANT
“Cant” is insincere language, or the language associated with a particularly group. Back in the 1600s, the term described the whining of beggars.

“Jargon” can mean nonsensical and meaningless talk, or the specialized language of a particular group, trade or profession. The term is Old French, with the more usual meaning of “a chattering”. How apt …

60. Wood strip LATH
The words "lath" and "lattice" have the same root in Old French. Laths are thin strips of wood that are nailed across a frame forming a backing to which plaster can be applied to finish a wall. The term is also used for the main elements in a trellis, or the lengths of wood in a roof to which shingles are nailed.

61. Focus of 1972 environmental legislation CLEAN WATER
The main legislation governing water pollution in the US is the Clean Water Act (CWA), which became law in 1972.

64. "Yikes!"HOLY TOLEDO!
The origin of the term “Holy Toledo!” is much debated. My favorite story is that it comes from the days of Vaudeville. Back then the week before Easter, known as Holy Week, was the worst week at the box office. Old Vaudeville entertainers used to quip that any week in Toledo was Holy Week, that ticket sales were always bad there. They referred to the city as “Holy Toledo”.

67. High-speed letters DSL
The abbreviation “DSL” originally stood for Digital Subscriber Loop, but is now accepted to mean (Asymmetric) Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is the technology that allows Internet service be delivered down the same telephone line as voice service, by separating the two into different frequency signals.

Down
1. Clothing material for John the Baptist CAMEL'S HAIR
According to the Gospel of Matthew in the King James Bible:

And the same John (the Baptist) had his raiment
of camel's hair, and a leathern
girdle about his loins; and his
meat was locusts and wild honey.

John the Baptist is regarded by some Christians as the forerunner of Jesus. Early in his life, Jesus was a disciple or follower of John, and is was John who baptized Jesus.

2. Marx Brothers setting OPERA HOUSE
"A Night at the Opera" is a 1935 Marx Brothers film that was the first movie in which Chico, Harpo and Groucho appeared without their brother Zeppo. "A Night at the Opera" is really great entertainment!

5. Catkin bearer PUSSY WILLOW
Pussy Willow is the name given to small willow and sallow shrubs, but only when their furry catkins are young in early spring. The flowering shoots of pussy willow are used as substitutes for palm branches on Palm Sunday in regions too far north for palms to grow.

6. Near-pointless swordplay? EPEE
The épée that is used in today’s sport fencing is derived from the old French dueling sword. In fact, the the sport of épée fencing is very similar to dueling of the 19th century. The word “épée” translates from French as “sword”.

7. Romans and countrymen: Abbr. ITALS
Italians (Itals.)

8. Brad's ex JEN
Jennifer Aniston won a 2002 Emmy for playing Rachel on the great sitcom "Friends". Jennifer's parents are both actors, and her godfather is the actor Telly Savalas.

Brad Pitt’s first major role was the cowboy hitchhiker in the 1991’s “Thelma and Louise”. Pitt’s life offscreen garners as much attention as his work onscreen, it seems. The tabloids revel in the series of high-profile relationships in which he has been involved. He was engaged to Gwyneth Paltrow for a while, married to Jennifer Aniston, and he now lives with Angelina Jolie.

10. 2016 College Football Playoff champ BAMA
The athletic teams of the University of Alabama (“Bama”) are nicknamed the Crimson Tide, a reference to the team colors of crimson and white.

11. Sea of __, south of Ukraine AZOV
The Sea of Azov lies east of the Crimean Peninsula and is linked to the larger Black Sea via the narrow Strait of Kerch. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world, with the depth never going above forty-six feet.

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe, a Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) before the dissolution of the USSR. In English we often call the country “the" Ukraine, but I am told that we should just say "Ukraine".

16. Immortal Bears coach HALAS
The NFL's George Stanley Halas, Sr. was nicknamed "Papa Bear". He also earned the well-deserved nickname of "Mr Everything" as he was a player, coach, inventor, jurist, producer, philanthropist, philatelist and NFL owner. He led the Chicago Bears from 1921 to 1967.

29. Singer Carly __ Jepsen RAE
Carly Rae Jepsen is a singer/songwriter from Mission, British Columbia. Jepsen got her start on TV's “Canadian Idol” when she placed third in the show’s fifth season.

32. You can count on it TALLY SHEET
Back in the mid-1600s, a “tally” was a stick marked with notches that tracked how much one owed or paid. The term came from the Latin “talea” meaning “stick, rod”.

35. Flier to Sundsvall 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.

Sundsvall is a city on the east coast of Sweden, sitting on the Gulf of Bothnia. The city has burned to the ground four times in all, with the last fire in 1888 being the biggest fire in the history of the country. As a result of this last fire, the city was built with buildings made from stone. It’s no wonder then that Sundsvall has the nickname “the Stone City”.

38. Eastern sash OBI
The sash worn as part of traditional Japanese dress is known as an obi. The obi can be tied in what is called a butterfly knot.

40. Loadable confections PEZ
PEZ is an Austrian brand name for a particular candy sold in a mechanical dispenser. Famously, PEZ dispensers have molded “heads”, and have become very collectible over the years. The list of heads includes historical figures like Betsy Ross and Paul Revere, characters from “Star Wars” and “Star Trek”, and even British royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (“William and Kate”). The name PEZ comes from the first, middle and last letters of "Pfefferminz", the German word for "peppermint".

43. International accord ENTENTE
An “entente cordiale” (sometimes just “entente”) is a friendly understanding, usually between two nations. The term, which translates from French as “cordial agreement”, was first used to describe a set of agreements between the UK and France that were put in place 1904.

45. "More than I care to know"TMI
Too much information! (TMI)

48. Subway option LOCAL
Local trains may stop at every station.

50. Guy de Maupassant novel BEL AMI
“Bel Ami” is an 1885 novel by French author Guy de Maupassant. The title translates as “Nice Friend”, although a 1903 translation of the novel is titled “Bel Ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel”.

52. Stuffed SATED
"Sate" is a variant of the older word "satiate". Both terms can mean either to satisfy an appetite fully, or to eat to excess.

54. "Draft Dodger Rag" folk singer OCHS
Phil Ochs was an American protest singer who was active in the days of the Vietnam War. Sadly, the singer’s mental health declined at the very time the war was winding down. Saigon fell in 1975, and Ochs committed suicide in 1976.

57. Comical Martha RAYE
Martha Raye was a comic actress as well as a singer. Strangely enough, Raye was famous for the size of her mouth, something that she used to her own advantage. As her nickname was "The Big Mouth", she made a little money appearing in commercials for the Polident denture cleaner in the eighties. Her line was, "So take it from the Big Mouth: new Polident Green gets tough stains clean!"

59. "__ Declassified School Survival Guide": 2000s Nickelodeon sitcom NED’S
“Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide” is a sitcom for children that originally aired on Nickelodeon from 2004 to 2007.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Heart CORE
5. JFK Library architect PEI
8. "The Well-Tempered Clavier" composer JS BACH
14. "C'mon, be __!" A PAL
15. In abundance, in slang UP THE WAZOO
17. Data lead-in META-
18. Flowerlike marine creature SEA ANEMONE
19. Latin 101 word ERAT
20. Bear's call SELL!
21. Worked on the road PAVED
22. Nowadays LATELY
24. Mine yield SALT
26. Tails SHADOWS
28. Most lemony SOUREST
33. Word with air or bed HOT
34. Ammo for Moe PIES
36. Peloponnesian War side SPARTA
37. One on a lot AUTO
39. Didn't reach logically, with "to" LEAPT
41. "Downton Abbey" title EARL
42. "City of the Beasts" author Allende ISABEL
44. Dissenting group SECT
46. Tommy Pickles' younger brother on "Rugrats" DIL
47. Vitamin A form RETINOL
49. Infect with the T-virus, in "Resident Evil" films ZOMBIFY
51. Things that come in pairs TWOS
53. Melody and Millie, to Minnie Mouse NIECES
54. Earth pigment OCHRE
58. Jargon CANT
60. Wood strip LATH
61. Focus of 1972 environmental legislation CLEAN WATER
63. Stub __ A TOE
64. "Yikes!" HOLY TOLEDO!
65. No more than MERE
66. Bad temper SPLEEN
67. High-speed letters DSL
68. Ain't right? ISN’T

Down
1. Clothing material for John the Baptist CAMEL'S HAIR
2. Marx Brothers setting OPERA HOUSE
3. Rapping sound RAT-A-TAT-TAT
4. Carried away ELATED
5. Catkin bearer PUSSY WILLOW
6. Near-pointless swordplay? EPEE
7. Romans and countrymen: Abbr. ITALS
8. Brad's ex JEN
9. Suddenly involved (in) SWEPT UP
10. 2016 College Football Playoff champ BAMA
11. Sea of __, south of Ukraine AZOV
12. Ice cream parlor purchase CONE
13. Worked in a bed HOED
16. Immortal Bears coach HALAS
23. Prune LOP
25. Went ballistic LOST CONTROL
27. Get it SEE
29. Singer Carly __ Jepsen RAE
30. Uproots ERADICATES
31. In a state of endless conflict STRIFE-TORN
32. You can count on it TALLY SHEET
35. Flier to Sundsvall SAS
38. Eastern sash OBI
40. Loadable confections PEZ
43. International accord ENTENTE
45. "More than I care to know" TMI
48. Subway option LOCAL
50. Guy de Maupassant novel BEL AMI
52. Stuffed SATED
54. "Draft Dodger Rag" folk singer OCHS
55. Western sound effect CLOP
56. Inferno HELL
57. Comical Martha RAYE
59. "__ Declassified School Survival Guide": 2000s Nickelodeon sitcom NED’S
62. Persuaded, with "over" WON


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
5. Mulching material PEAT
When dead plant matter accumulates in marshy areas, it may not fully decay due to a lack of oxygen or acidic conditions. We are familiar with this in Ireland, because this decaying matter can form peat, and we have lots and lots of peat bogs.

Mulch is a layer of material applied by gardeners over the top of soil. The intent can be to retain moisture, to add nutrients, to reduce weed growth, or just to improve the look of the garden.

14. It leaves trails JET
We talk so often about global warming these days but there is another fascinating phenomenon that is related, known as "global dimming". Global dimming is the reduction in the amount of heat that irradiates daily from the planet due to the insulating effect of pollution and vapor trails from aircraft, that are present in the atmosphere. The effect has been touted as a theory for decades but dramatic empirical data became available in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Planes were grounded and the skies over America were clear for three days. There was a stark change in the temperature range measured across the US for these three days, demonstrating the impact that air travel has on our climate.

18. Tiny tank plant ALGA
Algae are similar to terrestrial plants in that they use photosynthesis to create sugars from light and carbon dioxide, but they differ in that they have simpler anatomies, and for example lack roots.

20. Photo subject for NASA's New Horizons PLUTO
NASA’s New Horizons space probe was launched in 2006 with the primary mission of flying by and studying Pluto. As New Horizons launched, Pluto was officially classified as a planet, but a few months later it was downgraded to a dwarf planet. New Horizons achieved its primary mission in 2015, and is now headed towards a large object in the Kuiper Belt, scheduled to arrive there in 2019.

22. "Forever" purchase FIRST CLASS STAMP
The "forever stamp" for first-class postage was introduced in 2006 (and about time!). Now we have stamps that are good for first-class postage forever, no matter how the rates change.

25. Broad-leaved ornamental HOSTA
The Hosta genus of plant was once classified as a lily, but is now in a family of its own and is described as “lily-like”. The plant was given the name “Hosta” in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host.

27. Blog updates POSTS
Many folks who visit this website regard it as just that, a website. That is true, but more correctly it is referred to as a blog, as I make regular posts (actually daily posts) which then occupy the "front page" of the site. The blog entries are in reverse chronological order, and one can just look back day-by-day, reading older and older posts. “Blog” is a contraction of the term "web log".

29. "__ Miniver"MRS
“Mrs Miniver” is a 1942 movie starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon that is based on a 1940 book of the same name by Jan Struther. The book itself is actually a compilation of newspaper columns that Struther wrote for “The Times” of London. The columns were reflections of daily life in the run up to WWII as seen through the eyes of the fictional “Mrs. Miniver”. When the film was completed, President Roosevelt stepped in and had it rushed to theaters as he believed it would help convince the American people that the US needed to intervene in the war raging in Europe.

32. Humana rival AETNA
When the health care management and insurance company known as Aetna was founded, the name was chosen to evoke images of Mt. Etna, the European volcano.

Humana is a health insurance company based in Louisville, and is the largest company in the state of Kentucky.

33. Chinese gambling mecca MACAO
Macau (also “Macao”) was a Portuguese colony, the first European colony in China, which was established in the 16th century. Macau was handed back to the Chinese in 1999, two years after Hong Kong was returned by the British. That made Macau the last European colony in China. Today Macau’s economy is driven by tourism and gambling.

37. Sauce with a kick TABASCO
Edward McIlhenny created the first Tabasco Sauce in 1868. He recycled old cologne bottles as a container for the sauce so that he could present it to friends, and when he went into business he ordered new cologne bottles for the commercial product. Even today, the Tabasco Sauce bottle bears a striking resemblance to the bottle used to distribute 4711 cologne.

41. "The Simpsons" disco guy STU
On "The Simpsons", the character of Disco Stu is voiced by Hank Azaria, although he was voiced for a while by Phil Hartman. Disco Stu is described as "a black, wrinkly John Travolta".

50. Bulgarian capital SOFIA
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Natives pronounce the name "Sofia" with the emphasis on the "o", while the rest of us tend to stress the "i". Bulgarians do agree with us though when it comes to the girl's name "Sofia", then they stress the "i" like we do!

52. Enterprise counselor TROI
Deanna Troi is a character on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" who is played by the lovely Marina Sirtis. Sirtis is a naturalized American citizen and has what I would call a soft American accent on the show. However, she was born in the East End of London and has a natural accent off-stage that is more like that of a true Cockney.

53. Capital with a Viking Ship Museum OSLO
The most famous exhibit in Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum is the completely intact Oseberg ship. Named for the farm where it was discovered, the Oseberg ship was excavated from a large burial mound that dates back to 834 AD. The interment is an example of a “ship burial”, in which a ship was used as a container for a dead body and associated grave goods. The Oseberg ship included the bodies of two elderly females, one of which may have been included as a human sacrifice.

54. Prohibition era gun GAT
“Gat” is a slang term for a gun that is derived from the Gatling gun, the precursor to the modern machine gun. The Gatling gun was invented by Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861. Apparently he was inspired to invent it so that one man could do as much damage as a hundred, thereby reducing the size of armies and diminishing the suffering caused by war. Go figure ...

59. "Feliz año nuevo" time ENERO
In Spanish, one often says “Feliz Año Nuevo!” (Happy New Year!) each “enero” (January).

62. Champion TITLIST
A “titlist” is a titleholder, champion.

64. Like Gen. Powell RETD
Retired (retd.)

Colin Powell was the first African American to serve as US Secretary of State. Earlier in his career, Powell had been a four-star general in the US Army, as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. Even though Colin Powell has retired from public service, he is one of the most noted moderate Republicans, often advocating support for centrist and liberal causes.

69. __ year LEAP
I wasn’t sure of the origin of the term "leap year", and when I checked I found it to be fairly obvious. As a reference, let's use March 25, 2007, a Sunday. The year before, in 2006, March 25th fell one weekday earlier on a Saturday, following the rule that each year any particular date moves forward in the week by one day. However, the next year (208) has an extra day, February 29th. So March 25, 2008 falls on a Tuesday, "leaping" two weekdays forward, not one, as 2008 is a "leap" year. I think I am more confused now than when I started this paragraph …

70. WWII Navy vessel named for the 29th state USS IOWA
The USS Iowa that saw action in WWII was the fourth ship to be so called by the US Navy. Among her many missions, the Iowa carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Casablanca in 1943 for one of the famed war summits with Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin. Today we can visit the Iowa at the Port of Los Angeles, as it is now a floating museum.

73. Ocular sign of mischief GLEAM
Mischievous crossword constructors might submit their latest puzzle with gleams in their eyes.

76. On the ball ALERT
The phrase “on the ball”, meaning “alert”, comes from ball sports. It is a contraction of the expression “keep your eye on the ball”, i.e. stay alert!

79. Puerto Rico, por ejemplo ISLA
In Spanish, Puerto Rico “por ejemplo” (for example), is an “isla” (island).

Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean (in the Atlantic Ocean), east of the Dominican Republic. The name "Puerto Rico" is Spanish for "rich port". The locals often call their island Borinquen, the Spanish form of "Boriken", the original name used by the natives.

84. Cedar Rapids campus COE
Coe College is a private school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that was founded in 1851. Coe is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in the state of Iowa. It is named for rapids on the Cedar River on which the city is located. The river itself was named for the red cedars growing along the river’s banks.

85. Marsh duck TEAL
The beautiful color of teal takes it name from the duck called a "teal", which has dark greenish-blue (teal) markings on its head and wings.

86. Hindu deity RAMA
In the Hindu tradition, the god known as Vishnu has seven different avatars i.e. incarnations or manifestations. Rama is the seventh of these avatars.

87. Salentina Peninsula country ITALY
The geographic region known as Salento (sometimes “the Salentina Peninsula”) is the sub-peninsula of the Italian peninsula that forms the “heel” of the Italian “boot”.

93. Three-syllable foot ANAPEST
Anapest is the name given to a metrical foot in poetry, one in which two unstressed syllables are followed by a stressed one. Indeed, the name "anapest" is a good example, when pronounced an-a-pest. Here is a better example of a verse using anapest, so let's all say it out loud together! "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house".

95. FDR successor HST
The letter “S” in the middle of the name Harry S. Truman (HST) doesn’t stand for anything. The future-president was named “Harry” in honor of his mother’s brother Harrison “Harry” Young. The initial “S” was chosen in honor of young Harry’s two grandfathers: Anderson S-hipp Truman and S-olomon Young.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was the only child of Sara Delano and James Roosevelt Sr. The Delano family history in America goes back to the pilgrim Philippe de Lannoy, an immigrant of Flemish descent who arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. The family name "de Lannoy" was anglicized here in the US, to "Delano". Franklin was to marry Eleanor Roosevelt, and apparently the relationship between Sara and her daughter-in-law was very “strained”.

97. "Kung Fu" actor Philip AHN
The actor Philip Ahn is perhaps best known for playing Master Kahn, one of Caine’s teachers on the television show “Kung Fu”. Ahn was the first Asian-American actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

100. Bombards with e-junk SPAMS
Apparently the term "spam", used for unwanted email, is taken from a "Monty Python" sketch. In the sketch (which I've seen) the dialog is taken over by the word Spam, a play on the glut of canned meat in the markets of Britain after WWII. So "spam" is used for the glut of emails that takes over online communication. I can just imagine nerdy Internet types (like me) adopting something from a "Monty Python" sketch to describe an online phenomenon ...

102. Yucatán native MAYA
The Maya civilization held sway in Central America and Mexico from about 350 AD until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s.

The Yucatán Peninsula is located in southeastern Mexico, where it separates the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest from the Caribbean Sea to the southeast.

104. Billion-year span EON
In geology and astronomy, an “eon” is defined as a period of one billion years.

107. Weapon in a scabbard SABER
A saber is a sword with a curved blade and a relatively large hand guard. It is thought that the term originated with the Hungarian verb “szabni” meaning “to cut”.

110. Nutmeg State team HUSKIES
The UConn Huskies are the sports teams of the University of Connecticut. I wasn’t able to uncover the derivation of the “Huskies” moniker. Although it is true that “UConn” sounds like “Yukon”, that isn’t the derivation of the “Huskies” nickname. The school didn’t become the University of Connecticut (UConn) until 1939, and the Huskies name has been used since 1933.

Connecticut’s official nickname is the Constitution State, but can also be referred to as the Nutmeg State, the Provisions State, and the Land of Steady Habits.

118. Kunta __ of "Roots"KINTE
Not only did Alex Haley author the magnificent novel "Roots", but he was also the collaborator with Malcolm X on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". His 1976 novel "Roots" is based on Haley's own family history, and he claimed to be a direct descendant of the real life Kunta Kinte, the slave who was kidnapped in the The Gambia in 1767. If you remember the fabulous television adaptation of "Roots", you might recall that Kunta Kinte was played by LeVar Burton, who later went on to play another famous role, namely Geordi La Forge on "Star Trek: the Next Generation".

119. Ritzy retreat VILLA
The original “villas” were country houses owned by the elite in Ancient Rome. A member of the Roman elite would live in a “domus” in the city, whereas the rest of the population would live in “insulae”, apartment buildings.

120. "Oy vey!"AH ME!
“Oy vey” is a Yiddish expression of dismay that literally translates as “oh, pain”. The more usual translation is “woe is me”.

123. Great __ Mountains SMOKY
The Great Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachians and are located in North Carolina and Tennessee. The “Smokies” lie almost entirely within the bounds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most-visited national park in the whole country. The name “Smoky” is a reference to the natural fog often seen hanging over the range. The fog is actually a vapor made up of volatile organic compounds released by the vegetation covering the peaks.

124. Orgs. that donate to runners PACS
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a private group that works to influence the outcome of a particular election or group of elections. Any group becomes a PAC by law when it receives or spends more than $1,000 for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that PACS that did not make direct contributions to candidates or parties could accept unlimited contributions. These “independent-expenditure only committees” are commonly referred to as “super PACs”.

Down
3. New York MTA-owned commuter line LIRR
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the commuter rail service that runs all over Long Island, New York with 124 stations and 700 miles of track. More people use the LIRR than any other commuter railroad in the US. It is also the only commuter railroad in the country that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The MTA is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has public transportation responsibility in the state of New York (as well as part of Connecticut). MTA might also refer to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is known as the Metro and sometimes the MTA.

6. "__ Enchanted": 2004 film ELLA
"Ella Enchanted" is a fantasy novel written by Gail Carson Levine, and published in 1997. It is a retelling of the story of Cinderella, with lots of mythical creatures added. A film adaptation was released in 2004, starring Anne Hathaway in the title role.

7. Aunt in P.G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves" stories AGATHA
Aunt Agatha is a character in the Jeeves stories created by novelist P. G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse's full name was Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse. Bertie Wooster's celebrated valet's full name is Reginald Jeeves.

8. Prof's aides TAS
Teaching Assistants (TAs)

9. Ristorante rice dish RISOTTO
Risotto is an Italian rice dish that is usually served as a first course in Italy, but as a main course here in North America.

12. Peridot and garnet GEMS
Olivine is relatively common mineral, but is rarely found with purity that is sufficient for use as a gemstone. When the olivine is pure enough to be used as a gem, it is called peridot. Peridot is always olive green in color, with its color intensity a function of how much iron is in the stone.

Garnets are silicate minerals that comes in many colors. However, the color that we call “garnet” is a dark red.

13. Claim subject to debate ESP
Extrasensory perception (ESP)

20. Instagram fodder PHOTOS
Instagram is a photo-sharing application, one that is extremely popular I hear. Instagram was started in San Francisco in 2010. Facebook purchased Instagram two years later, paying $1 billion. The billion-dollar Instagram company had just 13 employees at the time …

21. Wells Fargo product LOAN
Back in the mid-1800s, Henry Wells founded an express package delivery service called Wells and Company. Around the same time, William Fargo founded Fargo and Company as a competitor. The two decided to join forces instead of competing, and took on a partner and formed the American Express Company (which is still around today). Fargo and Wells then decided to set up a company in California to provide express delivery and banking services, a company they called Wells Fargo.

23. Pain usually pluralized THROE
Our contemporary word "throe", meaning a spasm of pain, has been around since the early 1600s. It is a different spelling of the word "throwe" that had been around since around 1200 AD and which meant pain, particularly a pang of childbirth or the agony of death. Pain, from cradle to grave ...

24. UV-blocker rating syst. SPF
In theory, the sun protection factor (SPF) is a calibrated measure of the effectiveness of a sunscreen in protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. The idea is that if you wear a lotion with say SPF 20, then it takes 20 times as much UV radiation to cause the skin to burn than it would take without protection. I say just stay out of the sun ...

28. Gospel singer Winans CECE
CeCe Winans (real name Priscilla) is a Gospel music singer. She is part of a duo with her brother, BeBe Winans (real name Benjamin).

32. St. Clare's town ASSISI
The Italian town of Assisi is in Umbria. Assisi is famous as the birthplace of St. Francis and as the home to the Franciscan religious order. It was also the home to Saint Clare and her order of the Poor Sisters (later known as the Poor Clares).

33. Tiny biting fly MIDGE
“Midge” is a familiar term used for many different kinds of small flies.

34. Like most people ASIAN
Most of the world’s population lives in Asia (60%), and Asia is the largest continent in terms of landmass (30% of the world). Asia also has the highest population density (246 people per square mile), and the most populous city on the continent is Shanghai, China.

35. Great Sioux War of 1876 event CUSTER'S LAST STAND
The Battle of Little Bighorn was a famous engagement between the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho Native American peoples against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the US Army led by General George Custer. Custer was soundly defeated and he and all of his men were killed in the engagement. As a result, the battle is often referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand”. I had the privilege of visiting the battle site a few years ago, and it was a very memorable experience.

36. Sponge made from a vine fruit LOOFA
The loofah (also “loofa”, “lufah” and “luffa”, all Arabic words) is a vine, with fruit that's very popular in Asia and Africa. If the fruit is allowed to mature, it can be processed to remove everything but the more rigid xylem structure (remember your high school botany class?) leaving a soft, sponge-like mass that is used as a skin polisher.

39. Highway noise barrier BERM
The term “berm” can be used to describe a physical barrier of some kind. Berms can be constructed along a highway to protect those living and working nearby from noise pollution.

40. Score after deuce AD OUT
In tennis, if the score reaches "deuce" (i.e. when both players have scored three points), then the first player to win two points in a row wins the game. The player who wins the point immediately after deuce is said to have the "advantage". If the player with the advantage wins the next point then that's two in a row and that player wins the game. If the person with the advantage loses the next point, then advantage is lost and the players return to deuce and try again. If the one of the players is calling out the score then if he/she has the advantage then that player announces "ad in" or more formally "advantage in". If the score announcer's opponent has the advantage, then the announcement is "ad out" or "advantage out". Follow all of that ...?

43. Pizzeria chain, familiarly UNO’S
The chain of pizza parlors known today as Uno Chicago Grill used to be called Pizzeria Uno, or just “Uno’s”. Apparently Uno’s created the world’s first deep dish pizza.

45. Brit. military award DSO
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a British military award that is usually presented to officers with the rank of major or higher.

47. Loop on the range LASSO
Our English word “lasso” comes from the Spanish “lazo”, and ultimately from the Latin “laqueum” meaning “noose, snare”.

51. What a Sphynx cat lacks FUR
A Sphynx is a breed of cat that has no fur. The lack of fur was introduced by selective breeding in the sixties. Although there is no fur, the Sphynx does have some fine hair on tits body. The selective breeding has led to some health issues, though. The lack of fur leaves kittens susceptible to respiratory infections, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer.

55. "Don't look at me!"NOT I!
You should it, not I ...

56. 53-Across locale, to natives NORGE
(53A. Capital with a Viking Ship Museum OSLO)
“Norge” is Norwegian for “Norway”, and “Sverige” is Swedish for “Sweden”.

57. Cardinal cap letters STL
The St. Louis Cardinals were originally called the "Brown Stockings", changing their name to the "Perfectos" in 1899. That obviously didn't go down well with the locals, as the owners changed it one year later to the Cardinals.

65. Bio info DOB
Date of Birth (DOB)

67. Borden spokescow ELSIE
Elsie the Cow is the mascot of the Borden Company. Elsie first appeared at the New York World's Fair in 1939, introduced to symbolize the perfect dairy product. Elsie was also given a husband named Elmer the Bull. Elmer eventually moved over to the chemical division of Borden where he gave his name to Elmer's Glue.

68. Tour de France downtime REST DAY
Back in the late 1800s, long-distance cycle races were used as promotional events, traditionally to help boost sales of newspapers. These races usually took place around tracks, but in 1902 the backers of the struggling sports publication "L'Auto" decided to stage a race that would take the competitors all around France. That first Tour de France took place in 1903, starting in Paris and passing through Lyon, Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes and then back to Paris.

71. Lousy sausages? WURSTS
These sausages are lousy, they are the “wurst” …

“Wurst” is simply a German word for “sausage”.

72. "Ditto"AS AM I
"Ditto" was originally used in Italian (from Tuscan dialect) to avoid repetition of the names of months in a series of dates. So, "ditto" is just another wonderful import from that lovely land ...

74. Altar up above ARA
The constellation of Ara takes its name from the Latin word for "altar".

75. 87-Across fashion center MILAN
(87A. Salentina Peninsula country ITALY)
Milan (“Milano” in Italian) is Italy's second largest city, second only to Rome. Milan is a European fashion capital, the headquarters for the big Italian fashion houses of Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Prada and others. Mario Prada was even born in Milan, and helped establish the city's reputation in the world of fashion.

82. Harper's Weekly caricaturist NAST
Thomas Nast was an American caricaturist and cartoonist. He was the creator of the Republican Party elephant, the Democratic Party donkey, Uncle Sam and the image of the plump and jocular Santa Claus that we use today.

“Harper's Weekly” was a political magazine published in New York City from 1857 until 1916. One of the most famous features of “Harper’s Weekly” was the cartoons of Thomas Nast.

83. Bawling, for crying out loud: Abbr. SYN
“Bawling” is a synonym of “crying out loud”.

88. Don Quixote, for one SPANIARD
The full name of Cervantes' novel is "The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha". In the story, Don Quixote is a retired country gentleman who heads out as a knight-errant and who renames himself Don Quixote of la Mancha. In his mind he designates a neighboring farm girl called Aldonza Lorenzo as his lady love, and renames her Dulcinea del Toboso.

91. Brand with a paw print in its logo IAMS
Iams dog food was produced by the animal nutritionist Paul Iams. He felt that household pets were suffering somewhat by being fed a diet of table scraps, so he developed a dry dog food that he felt was more nutritious and suitable for pet dogs. He founded the Iams company, now part of Procter & Gamble, in 1946.

105. Torah holders ARKS
The Torah ark is found in a synagogue, and is the ornamental container in which are stored the Torah scrolls. The word "Torah" best translates as "teaching", I am told.

106. Luke's twin LEIA
Princess Leia is Luke Skywalker’s twin sister in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and was played by Carrie Fisher. Carrie Fisher has stated that she hated the famous "cinnamon bun hairstyle" that she had to wear in the films, as she felt it made her face look too round. She also had to to sit for two hours every day just to get her hair styled. Two hours to get your hair done? It takes me just two seconds ...

108. Woody's son ARLO
Arlo Guthrie is the son of Woody Guthrie. Both father and son are renowned for their singing of protest songs about social injustice. Arlo is most famous for his epic "Alice's Restaurant Massacree", a song that lasts a full 18m 34s. In the song Guthrie tells how, after being drafted, he was rejected for service in the Vietnam War based on his criminal record. He had only one incident on his public record, a Thanksgiving Day arrest for littering and being a public nuisance when he was 18-years-old.

109. Take for a ride BILK
The word "bilk", meaning "to defraud", comes from the card game of cribbage.

111. "Semper Fi" org. USMC
"Semper Fidelis" (often shortened to “Semper Fi”) is the motto of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The phrase is Latin and means "Always Faithful". The US Marine Corps isn't the only military unit using "Semper Fidelis" as a motto . It's also used by the Portuguese Marine Corps, the Republic of China Marine Corps and the Swiss Grenadiers.

112. Biblical name meaning "hairy"ESAU
Esau was the twin brother of Jacob, the founder of the Israelites. When their mother Rebekah gave birth to the twins "the first emerged red and hairy all over (Esau), with his heel grasped by the hand of the second to come out (Jacob)". As Esau was the first born, he was entitled to inherit his father's wealth (it was his "birthright"). Instead, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for the price of a "mess of pottage" (a meal of lentils).

113. They're often pickled SOTS
Our word "sot" comes from the Old English "sott", meaning a fool. The word "sot" started to be associated with alcohol and not just foolery in the late 1500s.

115. Walgreens rival CVS
The name of the drugstore chain CVS once stood for Consumer Value Stores, although these days the company uses the initialism to denote Convenience, Value and Service.

Walgreens is the largest chain of drugstores in the United States, with over 7,500 retail outlets. The company is named for the owner of the first store and founder of the chain, Charles R. Walgreen.

117. Ping-Pong need NET
Ping-Pong is called table tennis in the UK, where the sport originated in the 1880s. Table tennis started as an after-dinner activity among the elite, and was called "wiff-waff". To play the game, books were stacked in the center of a table as a "net", two more books served as ""rackets" and the ball used was actually a golf ball. The game evolved over time with the rackets being upgraded to the lids of cigar boxes and the ball becoming a champagne cork (how snooty is that?). Eventually the game was produced commercially, and the sound of the ball hitting the racket was deemed to be a "ping" and a "pong", giving the sport its alternative name.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Check some figures? OGLE
5. Mulching material PEAT
9. Hot spot RANGE
14. It leaves trails JET
17. Song often sung in Italian ARIA
18. Tiny tank plant ALGA
19. Brain freeze-causing drinks ICEES
20. Photo subject for NASA's New Horizons PLUTO
22. "Forever" purchase FIRST CLASS STAMP
25. Broad-leaved ornamental HOSTA
26. Desert climate feature DRY HEAT
27. Blog updates POSTS
28. Like easier-to-swallow pills COATED
29. "__ Miniver" MRS
30. Strain to lift HEFT
32. Humana rival AETNA
33. Chinese gambling mecca MACAO
36. Sloppy, as security LAX
37. Sauce with a kick TABASCO
41. "The Simpsons" disco guy STU
44. "Suits me fine!" I SURE DO!
46. Government meeting for delicate subjects CLOSED SESSION
49. Storage medium DISK
50. Bulgarian capital SOFIA
52. Enterprise counselor TROI
53. Capital with a Viking Ship Museum OSLO
54. Prohibition era gun GAT
55. Simple to use, in adspeak NO FUSS, NO MUSS
58. Reminders on cards CUES
59. "Feliz año nuevo" time ENERO
61. "You __ right!" ARE SO
62. Champion TITLIST
64. Like Gen. Powell RETD
66. More painful SORER
69. __ year LEAP
70. WWII Navy vessel named for the 29th state USS IOWA
73. Ocular sign of mischief GLEAM
76. On the ball ALERT
79. Puerto Rico, por ejemplo ISLA
80. Corporate uncertainty BUSINESS RISK
84. Cedar Rapids campus COE
85. Marsh duck TEAL
86. Hindu deity RAMA
87. Salentina Peninsula country ITALY
88. Bowl over STUN
89. Judge's decree CASE DISMISSED
93. Three-syllable foot ANAPEST
95. FDR successor HST
96. Erode EAT INTO
97. "Kung Fu" actor Philip AHN
99. Gets one's feet wet WADES
100. Bombards with e-junk SPAMS
102. Yucatán native MAYA
104. Billion-year span EON
105. Takes in, say ALTERS
107. Weapon in a scabbard SABER
110. Nutmeg State team HUSKIES
114. Kingdom REALM
115. It has a November kickoff CHRISTMAS SEASON
118. Kunta __ of "Roots" KINTE
119. Ritzy retreat VILLA
120. "Oy vey!" AH ME!
121. Figure of interest? RATE
122. Blue SAD
123. Great __ Mountains SMOKY
124. Orgs. that donate to runners PACS
125. Do some cleaning DUST

Down
1. Clumsy type OAF
2. Electrical system GRID
3. New York MTA-owned commuter line LIRR
4. Patsy EASY MARK
5. Treasure map units PACES
6. "__ Enchanted": 2004 film ELLA
7. Aunt in P.G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves" stories AGATHA
8. Prof's aides TAS
9. Ristorante rice dish RISOTTO
10. Play times? ACTS
11. Trim NEAT
12. Peridot and garnet GEMS
13. Claim subject to debate ESP
14. "Aha!" JUST AS I SUSPECTED!
15. Relative of -let -ETTE
16. Pond hopper TOAD
20. Instagram fodder PHOTOS
21. Wells Fargo product LOAN
23. Pain usually pluralized THROE
24. UV-blocker rating syst. SPF
28. Gospel singer Winans CECE
31. Takes out EXCISES
32. St. Clare's town ASSISI
33. Tiny biting fly MIDGE
34. Like most people ASIAN
35. Great Sioux War of 1876 event CUSTER'S LAST STAND
36. Sponge made from a vine fruit LOOFA
38. Regarding AS TO
39. Highway noise barrier BERM
40. Score after deuce AD OUT
42. Vacancy sign TO LET
43. Pizzeria chain, familiarly UNO’S
45. Brit. military award DSO
47. Loop on the range LASSO
48. Get-together SOCIAL
51. What a Sphynx cat lacks FUR
55. "Don't look at me!" NOT I!
56. 53-Across locale, to natives NORGE
57. Cardinal cap letters STL
60. Flea market deal RESALE
63. Reporter's source LEAK
65. Bio info DOB
67. Borden spokescow ELSIE
68. Tour de France downtime REST DAY
70. __ directed USE AS
71. Lousy sausages? WURSTS
72. "Ditto" AS AM I
74. Altar up above ARA
75. 87-Across fashion center MILAN
77. Stir ROUSE
78. Places for cots TENTS
79. Sign of a recent bite ITCH
81. Hacker's cry I’M IN!
82. Harper's Weekly caricaturist NAST
83. Bawling, for crying out loud: Abbr. SYN
88. Don Quixote, for one SPANIARD
90. "Gosh!" DEAR ME!
91. Brand with a paw print in its logo IAMS
92. "The rumor is ... " SOME SAY ...
94. Got up AWOKE
98. "Very funny!" HA HA HA!
101. Hit with hail, say PELT
103. Museum pieces ART
104. Twisty turns ... and the "quad" in each of this puzzle's eight longest answers ESSES
105. Torah holders ARKS
106. Luke's twin LEIA
107. Thin strip of wood SHIM
108. Woody's son ARLO
109. Take for a ride BILK
111. "Semper Fi" org. USMC
112. Biblical name meaning "hairy" ESAU
113. They're often pickled SOTS
115. Walgreens rival CVS
116. Hiking guide MAP
117. Ping-Pong need NET


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Spaghetti or ziti PASTA
The term “spaghetti” is a plural diminutive form of the Italian word “spago”, which means “thin string, twine”.

Cylindrical pasta is known in general as “penne”, and there are many variants. For example, ziti is a particularly large and long tube with square-cut ends. "Penne" is the plural of "penna", the Italian for "feather, quill".

11. What a steamroller steamrolls TAR
The terms “Tarmac” and “macadam” are short for "tarmacadam". In the 1800s, Scotsman John Loudon McAdam developed a style of road known as "macadam". Macadam had a top-layer of crushed stone and gravel laid over larger stones. The macadam also had a convex cross-section so that water tended to drain to the sides. In 1901, a significant improvement was made by English engineer Edgar Purnell Hooley who introduced tar into the macadam, improving the resistance to water damage and practically eliminating dust. The "tar-penetration macadam" is the basis of what we now call Tarmac.

15. Capital of Yemen SANAA
Sana (also Sanaa) is the capital city of Yemen. Within the bounds of today's metropolis is the old fortified city of Sana, where people have lived for over 2,500 years. The Old City is now a World Heritage Site.

16. Thrilla in Manila winner ALI
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had three memorable fights. The first was billed as the "Fight of the Century" and took place in 1971 in Madison Square Garden. It was a fight between two great boxers, both of whom were undefeated up till that point. Frazier won in a unanimous decision after fifteen rounds. A couple of years later, in 1973, Frazier lost his title to George Foreman. Ali and Frazier had a non-title rematch in 1974, with Ali coming out ahead this time, also in a unanimous decision. Later that year, Ali grabbed back the World Heavyweight Title in "The Rumble in the Jungle", the famous "rope-a-dope" fight against George Foreman. That set the stage for the third and final fight between Ali and Frazier, "The Thrilla in Manila". Ali won the early rounds, but Frazier made a comeback in the middle of the fight. Ali took control at the end of the bout, so much so that Frazier wasn't able to come out of his corner for the 15th and final round. He couldn't come out of his corner because both of his eyes were swollen shut, giving Ali a victory due to a technical knockout (TKO).

19. Caboodle go-with KIT
In the idiomatic expression "the whole kit and caboodle", caboodle (sometimes spelled "kaboodle") is an informal term for a bunch of people, or sometimes the "the whole lot".

20. Bill at the bar TAB
When we “run a tab” at a bar say, we are “running a tabulation”, a listing of what we owe. Such a use of “tab” is American slang that originated in the 1880s.

21. Tehran native IRANI
Tehran is the capital of Iran and is the largest city in the Middle East, with a population of about 8.5 million. Iran has been around a really long time and Tehran is actually the country's 31st national capital.

22. German auto engineer Karl BENZ
It is generally accepted that Karl Benz invented the internal combustion engine, although others were doing similar work around the same time. He certainly was awarded the first patent for an automobile, in 1886. His first automobile, the Patent-Motorwagen, couldn't get up hills unaided so his wife Bertha Benz suggested the introduction of gears. Sure enough, the next model had two gears. Behind every successful man ...

28. Ticklish Muppet ELMO
The “Sesame Street” character has a birthday every February 3rd, and on that birthday he always turns 3½ years old. The man behind/under Elmo on “Sesame Street” is Kevin Clash. If you want to learn more about Elmo and Clash, you can watch the 2011 documentary “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey”.

32. ID card feature PHOTO
Identity document (ID)

35. Point de __: opinion, in Paris VUE
“Point de vue” is French for “point of view, opinion”.

42. Corp. ladder leader CEO
Chief executive officer (CEO)

43. En __: as a group MASSE
"En masse" is a French term, one that is best translated as "as a group".

45. WWII female enlistee WAAC
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was formed in 1942, and the unit was converted to full status the following year to become the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Famously, General Douglas MacArthur referred to the WACs as his "best soldiers", saying they worked harder, complained less and were better disciplined than men. The WACs were disbanded in 1978 and the serving members were integrated into the rest of the army.

47. Org. with a "100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time" list AFI
The American Film Institute (AFI) was founded in 1967 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). One of the AFI’s more visible programs is the “100 Year Series”, including lists of Best Movies in several categories and a list of the Best Movie Quotes in 100 years of movie-making.

The top 5 in the American Film Institute’s list "100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time" are:

1. “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” from “Gone with the Wind”
2. “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.” from “The Godfather”
3. “You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” from “On the Waterfront”
4. “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” from “The Wizard of Oz”
5. “Here's looking at you, kid.” from “Casablanca”

That’s a pretty good list …

49. Photographer's instruction WATCH THE BIRDIE
The somewhat outdated instruction “watch the birdie” is sometimes still used by photographers to get their subjects to look at the camera as the picture is taken. Back in the early days of portrait photography, when exposure times were quite long, photographers actually used a mechanical birdie that warbled away, mainly to attract and hold the attention of children who were posing.

59. Swiss peak ALP
There are eight Alpine countries:

- Austria
- Slovenia
- France
- Switzerland
- Liechtenstein
- Germany
- Monaco
- Italy

65. Beethoven's "Für __"ELISE
"Fur Elise" is a beautiful piece of music written by Beethoven, and is also known as "Bagatelle in A Minor". "Fur Elise" means simply "For Elise", but sadly no one knows for sure the identity of the mysterious dedicatee.

66. Lao-__: Taoism founder TSE
Lao Tse (also Lao-Tzu) was a central figure in the development of the religion/philosophy of Taoism.

67. Heart rate PULSE
One’s “pulse” is the rhythmic throbbing of arteries that is usually detected at the wrist or the neck. The contraction of the heart creates a pressure wave in the blood that moves the arterial walls, which is detected as the pulse.

68. Thin coins DIMES
The term “dime”, used for a 10-cent coin, comes from the Old French word “disme” meaning “tenth part”.

Down
3. Biblical queen's land SHEBA
Sheba is referenced in the Bible several times. The "Queen of Sheba" is mentioned as someone who traveled to Jerusalem to behold the fame of King Solomon. No one knows for sure where the kingdom of Sheba was located, although there is evidence that it was actually the ancient Semitic civilization of Saba. The Sabeans lived in what today is Yemen, on the Arabian Peninsula.

6. Lion of Narnia 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.

7. Sherwin-Williams product PAINT
The Sherwin-Williams Company is a big producer of paints, as well as related products for the construction industry. The company was founded by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams in Cleveland, Ohio in 1866.

8. Cardio procedure ANGIO
Angioplasty is a mechanical widening of a narrowed artery. In the surgical procedure, a balloon catheter is inflated at the point of the obstruction to open up the artery. A stent may then be inserted to make sure the vessel remains open.

10. Skin art, briefly TAT
Tattoo (tat)

13. Big name in hotels and crackers RITZ
César Ritz was a Swiss hotelier, who had a reputation for developing the most luxurious of accommodations and attracting the wealthiest clientèle. He opened the Hotel Ritz in Paris in 1898 and the second of his most famous hotels, the Ritz Hotel in London, in 1906. Ritz was lucky in his career, as before starting his own hotel chain he had been dismissed from the Savoy Hotel in London, implicated in the disappearance of a substantial amount of wine and spirits. Today’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company was founded in 1983, although the chain has its roots in the properties developed by César Ritz.

I've always liked Ritz crackers. They've been around since 1934 when they were introduced by Nabisco. The name Ritz was chosen because the marketing folks felt that the association with Ritz-Carlton would evoke images of wealth and the highlife.

18. Buffalo's lake ERIE
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). The source of the name Buffalo Creek is the subject of much speculation, but one thing is clear, there were never any bison in the area.

22. Emeril catchword BAM!
Emeril Lagasse is an American chef, born in Massachusetts. Lagasse first achieved notoriety as executive chef in Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Now famous for his television shows, his cuisine still showcases New Orleans ingredients and influences. Lagasse started using his famous "Bam!" catchphrase in order to keep his crew awake during repeated tapings of his show.

24. __ de boeuf: French roast ROTI
“Rôti” is the French for “roasted”, so “rôti de boeuf” is “roast beef”.

25. Alien-seeking org. SETI
SETI is the name given to a number of projects that are searching for extraterrestrial life. The acronym stands for “search for extraterrestrial intelligence”. One of the main SETI activities is the monitoring of electromagnetic radiation (such as radio waves) reaching the Earth in the hope of finding a transmission from a civilization in another world.

29. Secretly keep in the email loop, briefly BCC
A blind carbon copy (bcc) is a copy of a document or message that is sent to someone without other recipients of the message knowing about that extra copy.

30. Abu Dhabi's fed. UAE
Abu Dhabi is one of the seven Emirates that make up the federation known as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The two largest members of the UAE (geographically) are Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the only two of the seven members that have veto power over UAE policy. Before 1971, the UAE was a British Protectorate, a collection of sheikdoms. The sheikdoms entered into a maritime truce with Britain in 1835, after which they became known as the Trucial States, derived from the word “truce”.

31. Suspected McIntosh relative with pure white flesh SNOW APPLE
The snow apple is an heirloom variety of apple with very white flesh. It is a variety that originated in Canada.

32. TD's six PTS
In football, a touchdown (TD) scores six points (pts.).

36. __ Today USA
The title of widest circulation of any American newspaper is an honor competed for by "The Wall Street Journal", “The New York Times” and "USA Today", with each paper selling about 2 million copies each day (including online subscribers). "USA Today" was launched in 1982.

37. Subj. for some green-card holders ESL
English as a Second Language (ESL) is sometimes referred to as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

A “green card” is more correctly called a US Permanent Resident Card. The informal term harks back to the period between 1946 and 1964 when the document was in fact green in color. In fact, the Permanent Resident Card was changed back to a green color in 2010.

39. Former auto financing co. GMAC
GMAC is short for General Motors Acceptance Corporation. General Motors has only a small stake in GMAC now, and indeed the name has been officially changed to Ally Bank. You and me, we are the biggest shareholders in GMAC/Ally today, since the US government gave the bank $12.5 billion to bail it out in 2008-2009.

41. Roulette color NOIR
In the game of roulette, players can bet on red (rouge) and black (noir).

46. Verizon rival ATT
The original AT&T Corporation was first known as the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

The telecommunications company that we know today as Verizon was founded in 1983 as Bell Atlantic, and was one of the “Baby Bells” that were formed after the breakup of AT&T. Bell Atlantic merged with fellow Baby Bell NYNEX in 1997, and then merged with GTE in 2000 to form Verizon. The new company name is a portmanteau of “veritas” (“truth” in Latin) and “horizon”.

49. H.G. who wrote "The War of the Worlds"WELLS
The full name of the English author known as H. G. Wells was Herbert George Wells. Wells is particularly well known for his works of science fiction, including “The War of the Worlds”, “The Time Machine”, “The Invisible Man” and “The Island of Doctor Moreau”. He was a prolific author, and a prolific lover as well. While married to one of his former students with whom he had two sons, he also had a child with writer Amber Reeves, and another child with author Rebecca West.

“The War of the Worlds” is a science fiction classic penned by H. G. Wells in 1895-97. This compelling story of Martians invading Earth has been adapted many times into radio dramas, a television series and several movies.

50. Internet forum troublemaker TROLL
In Internet terms, a "troll" is someone who attempts to disrupt online group activities. The fishing term "troll" is used to describe such a person, as he or she throws out off-topic remarks in an attempt to "lure" others into some emotional response.

53. Jeans material DENIM
Denim fabric originated in Nimes in France. The French phrase "de Nimes" (from Nimes) gives us the word "denim". Also, the French phrase "bleu de Genes" (blue of Genoa) gives us our word "jeans".

55. Cary of "Glory"ELWES
Cary Elwes is an English actor, most noted for appearing in the 1987 film “The Princess Bride”. Cary is the son of a celebrated English portrait painter, Dominick Elwes.

“Glory” is a 1989 movie about the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first African-American units formed during the Civil War.

61. Buckeyes' sch. OSU
Ohio State University (OSU) was founded back in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. The athletic teams of OSU are called the Buckeyes, named after the state tree of Ohio. In turn the buckeye tree gets its name from the appearance of its fruit, a dark nut with a light patch thought to resemble a "buck's eye".

62. Yale Blue wearer ELI
Eli is the nickname for a graduate of Yale University, a term used in honor of the Yale benefactor Elihu Yale.

The dark azure color known as “Yale Blue” was adopted by the university in 1894. Prior to that year, Yale had been associated with a green color.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Spaghetti or ziti PASTA
6. In different places APART
11. What a steamroller steamrolls TAR
14. Moral standard ETHIC
15. Capital of Yemen SANAA
16. Thrilla in Manila winner ALI
17. Understand, finally SEE THE LIGHT
19. Caboodle go-with KIT
20. Bill at the bar TAB
21. Tehran native IRANI
22. German auto engineer Karl BENZ
23. Zone out STARE INTO SPACE
27. Mined rock ORE
28. Ticklish Muppet ELMO
29. Boom's opposite BUST
32. ID card feature PHOTO
35. Point de __: opinion, in Paris VUE
38. Revival leader's query ... and hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 49- and 60-Across CAN I GET A WITNESS?
42. Corp. ladder leader CEO
43. En __: as a group MASSE
44. Spoken ORAL
45. WWII female enlistee WAAC
47. Org. with a "100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time" list AFI
49. Photographer's instruction WATCH THE BIRDIE
56. Had a bawl WEPT
57. Track jockey, e.g. RIDER
58. Building wing ELL
59. Swiss peak ALP
60. "Didn't think I could do it, did ya?!" LOOK AT ME NOW!
63. Under the weather ILL
64. Speck in the ocean ISLET
65. Beethoven's "Für __" ELISE
66. Lao-__: Taoism founder TSE
67. Heart rate PULSE
68. Thin coins DIMES

Down
1. Ones who won't leave you alone PESTS
2. Really bugged ATE AT
3. Biblical queen's land SHEBA
4. Little songbird TIT
5. More sore ACHIER
6. Lion of Narnia ASLAN
7. Sherwin-Williams product PAINT
8. Cardio procedure ANGIO
9. Word of support RAH!
10. Skin art, briefly TAT
11. Seek shelter TAKE COVER
12. Flared skirt A-LINE
13. Big name in hotels and crackers RITZ
18. Buffalo's lake ERIE
22. Emeril catchword BAM!
24. __ de boeuf: French roast ROTI
25. Alien-seeking org. SETI
26. Underhanded plan PLOT
29. Secretly keep in the email loop, briefly BCC
30. Abu Dhabi's fed. UAE
31. Suspected McIntosh relative with pure white flesh SNOW APPLE
32. TD's six PTS
33. Gives birth to HAS
34. What borrowers do OWE
36. __ Today USA
37. Subj. for some green-card holders ESL
39. Former auto financing co. GMAC
40. A pop EACH
41. Roulette color NOIR
46. Verizon rival ATT
47. Aid in a felony ABET
48. Solidified, as plans, with "up" FIRMED
49. H.G. who wrote "The War of the Worlds" WELLS
50. Internet forum troublemaker TROLL
51. Backpacking outings HIKES
52. Online social appointment E-DATE
53. Jeans material DENIM
54. Admission of defeat I LOSE
55. Cary of "Glory" ELWES
56. Cool one's heels WAIT
60. One of a kissing pair LIP
61. Buckeyes' sch. OSU
62. Yale Blue wearer ELI


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Gearshift letters PRNDL
PRNDL … that would be Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low. The gear shift for an automatic transmission is sometimes known familiarly as the “prindle stick”, from the abbreviation PRNDL.

10. Largemouth fish BASS
The largemouth bass is a freshwater fish that isn’t a bass at all, but rather is a member of the sunfish family.

14. Pianist Chick with 22 Grammys COREA
Chick Corea is an American jazz pianist. Corea is noted for his work in the area of jazz fusion, as well as for his promotion of Scientology.

The first Grammy Awards Ceremony was held in 1959 and focused on recognizing outstanding achievement in the recording industry. The idea of a Grammy Award came up when recording executives were working on the Hollywood Walk of Fame project in the fifties. These executives concluded that there were many people in the recording industry deserving of accolades but who would probably never make it to the Walk of Fame. As a result, they founded the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The Academy considered naming the award the “Eddies” after Thomas Edison, but then opted for “Grammy” after Edison’s invention: the gramophone.

15. Sheltered, at sea ALEE
"Alee" is the direction away from the wind. If a sailor points into the wind, he or she is pointing "aweather".

16. Johnson of "Laugh-In"ARTE
Arte Johnson, as well being a frequent judge on "The Gong Show", played the German soldier on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In". Johnson’s character's famous catchphrase was, "Very interesting, but ..."

17. Banjo sound TWANG
The instrument that we know today as the banjo is a derivative of instruments that were used in Africa.

18. Org. with many long missions NASA
The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite towards the end of 1957, a development that shocked the establishment in the US. Within months, President Eisenhower created the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA, now DARPA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Space Race had begun ...

23. Old TV-top receiver ANTENNA
Remember the television antenna called a "rabbit ears"? I don't recall being told this when I was younger, but to get the best reception the length of the "ears" needs to be set at about one half of the wavelength of the signal of the target channel. If only I had known ...

32. "Airplane!" actor Robert HAYS
The 1980 movie “Airplane!” has to be one of the zaniest comedies ever made. The lead roles were Ted Striker (played by Robert Hays) and Elaine Dickinson (played by Julie Hagerty). But it was Leslie Nielsen who stole the show, playing Dr. Barry Rumack. That's my own humble opinion of course ...

33. "We don't know yet," in a TV schedule TBA
Something not yet on the schedule (sked) is to be advised (TBA).

36. Corner-to-corner line: Abbr. DIAG
Diagonal (diag.)

40. Some MIT grads EES
Electrical engineer (EE)

41. Tabloid twosome ITEM
An unmarried couple known to be involved with each other might appear in the gossip columns. This appearance as "an item" in the papers, led to the use of "item" to refer to such a couple, but only since the very early seventies.

"Tabloid" is the trademarked name (owned by Burroughs, Wellcome and Co,) for a "small tablet of medicine", a name that goes back to 1884. The word "tabloid" had entered into general use to mean a compressed form of anything, and by the early 1900s was used in "tabloid journalism", applied to newspapers that had short, condensed articles and stories printed on smaller sheets of paper.

43. Two-rope jumping DOUBLE DUTCH (giving “body double”)
Double Dutch is skipping game that uses two jump ropes that are turned in opposite directions.

47. Texas landmark ALAMO
The famous Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission was founded in 1718 and was the first mission established in the city. The Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, a thirteen-day siege by the Mexican Army led by President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Only two people defending the Alamo Mission survived the onslaught. One month later, the Texian army got its revenge by attacking and defeating the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto. During the surprise attack on Santa Anna's camp, many of the Texian soldiers were heard to cry "Remember the Alamo!".

51. Two-man Army helicopters APACHES
The 4-bladed Apache helicopter was introduced back in 1975 as a replacement for the 2-bladed Cobra. The Apache first entered service in 1986, and is still very much in use, mainly with the US Army, the Israel Air Force, the Egyptian Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

56. Spirited horse ARAB
The Arab (or Arabian) breed of horse takes its name from its original home, the Arabian Peninsula. Like any animal that humans have over-bred, the horse falls prey to genetic diseases, some of which are fatal and some of which require the horse to be euthanized.

58. PlugIns Scented Oil maker GLADE
Glade is a brand of air fresheners that was first introduced in 1956.

Down
1. Tipper's 15: Abbr. PCT
Percent (pct.)

3. Org. promoting hunter safety NRA
National Rifle Association (NRA)

5. Southern California's __ Beach LAGUNA
Laguna Beach is seaside resort city in Orange County in southern California. The city takes its name from nearby Laguna Canyon, and was originally known as Lagonas.

7. Skin care brand with an Active Botanicals line OLAY
Oil of Olay was developed in South Africa in 1949. When Oil of Olay was introduced internationally, it was given slightly different brand names designed to appeal in the different geographies. In Ireland we know it as Oil of Ulay, for example, and in France it is Oil of Olaz.

9. Sweetheart BEAU
A “beau” is the boyfriend of a “belle”, a young lady. “Beau” and “belle” are the masculine and feminine forms of the French word for “handsome, beautiful”.

10. Lightweight wood BALSA
Balsa is a very fast growing tree that is native to parts of South America. Even though balsa wood is very soft, it is actually classified as a hardwood, the softest of all the hardwoods (go figure!). Balsa is light and strong, so is commonly used in making model airplanes. Amazingly, in WWII a full-size British plane, the de Havilland Mosquito, was built largely from balsa and plywood. No wonder they called it "The Wooden Wonder" and "The Timber Terror".

11. Ram in the sky ARIES
The constellation of Aries has come to represent the ram that yielded the Golden Fleece of Greek mythology.

13. Feudal servants SERFS
A serf was a member of the lowest feudal class, someone attached to land owned by a lord. "Serf" comes from the Latin "servus", meaning "slave".

22. Two-legged zebras? REFS
A football referee is sometimes called a “zebra”, a reference to the striped shirt that is part of a referee’s uniform.

28. Green digit? THUMB
To have a “green thumb” or “green fingers” is to be good at gardening.

29. Onetime Egypt-Syria fed. UAR
The United Arab Republic (UAR) was a union between Egypt and Syria made in 1958 and dissolved in 1961 when Syria pulled out of the arrangement.

34. Lawn bowling game BOCCE
The Italian bowling game of “bocce” (anglicized as “bocci”) is based on a game played in Ancient Rome. “Bocce” is the plural of the Italian word "boccia" meaning "bowl".

35. Pharaohs' crosses ANKHS
The ankh was the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic character for "eternal life". The ankh wasn't just used in inscriptions but was often fashioned into amulets and as surrounds for mirrors (perhaps symbolizing a view into another world). The ankh is also known as “the key of the Nile” and “crux ansata” (Latin for “cross with a handle”).

37. Norah Jones'"What Am __ You?"I TO
The beguiling Norah Jones is the daughter of famous sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, and is one of my favorite singers. If you haven't heard Jones sing her song "Come Away with Me", you just haven't lived ...

38. Modern, in Munich NEU
Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria, and is the third largest city in the country (after Berlin and Hamburg). The city is called “München” in German, a term that derives from the Old German word for “by the monks’ place”, which is a reference to the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city in 1158.

39. "Enter the Dragon" martial artist BRUCE LEE
Bruce Lee was born not far from here in San Francisco although he was raised in Hong Kong, returning to the US to attend college. Sadly, Bruce Lee died when he was only 32 years old, due to cerebral edema (a swelling of the brain) attributed to adverse reactions to the pain killing drug Equagesic. Lee’s last film was 1973’s martial arts movie “Enter the Dragon”.

45. Waste watchers: Abbr. EPA
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

48. Seuss' environmental advocate LORAX
"The Lorax" is a children's book written by Dr. Seuss. It is an allegorical work questioning the problems created by industrialization, and in particular its impact on the environment. At one point in the story, the Lorax “speaks for the trees, for the trees have no tongues”. “The Lorax” was adapted into an animated film that was released in 2012, with Danny DeVito voicing the title character.

55. Trait carrier GENE
A gene is a section of a chromosome that is responsible for a particular characteristic in an organism. For example, one gene may determine eye color and another balding pattern. We have two copies of each gene, one from each of our parents, with each copy known as an allele.

59. Dadaist Jean ARP
Hans Arp was a French artist renowned for his work with torn and pasted paper, although that wasn't the only medium he used. Arp was the son of a French mother and German father and spoke both languages fluently. When he was speaking German he gave his name as Hans Arp, but when speaking French he called himself Jean Arp. Both "Hans" and "Jean" translate into English as "John". In WWI Arp moved to Switzerland to avoid being called up to fight, taking advantage of Swiss neutrality. Eventually he was told to report to the German Consulate and fill out paperwork for the draft. In order to get out of fighting, Arp messed up the paperwork by writing the date in every blank space on the forms. Then he took off all of his clothes and walked with his papers over to the officials in charge. Arp was sent home …

Dadaism thrived during and just after WWI, and was an anti-war, anti-bourgeois and anti-art culture. The movement began in Zurich, Switzerland started by a group of artists and writers who met to discuss art and put on performances in the Cabaret Voltaire, frequently expressing disgust at the war that was raging across Europe.

60. Yahtzee cube DIE
The dice game of Yahtzee was introduced in 1956, a variant of earlier dice games, especially the game "Yacht" (which even has a similar name). Yahtzee is required playing in our house at holidays. The game involves the rolling of five dice, with the intent of getting certain combinations. A lot of those combinations resemble poker hands, such as “three of a kind”, “four of a kind” and “full house”.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Gearshift letters PRNDL
6. Where a baby develops WOMB
10. Largemouth fish BASS
14. Pianist Chick with 22 Grammys COREA
15. Sheltered, at sea ALEE
16. Johnson of "Laugh-In" ARTE
17. Banjo sound TWANG
18. Org. with many long missions NASA
19. Whopper maker? LIAR
20. "Fine, don't listen to me" SUIT YOURSELF (giving “bodysuit”)
23. Old TV-top receiver ANTENNA
26. Calms EASES
27. Lobster-steak combo SURF AND TURF (giving “body-surf”)
31. Prefix with -logue IDEO-
32. "Airplane!" actor Robert HAYS
33. "We don't know yet," in a TV schedule TBA
36. Corner-to-corner line: Abbr. DIAG
37. Accustom (to) INURE
39. Timely blessing BOON
40. Some MIT grads EES
41. Tabloid twosome ITEM
42. Lull in a cradle ROCK
43. Two-rope jumping DOUBLE DUTCH (giving “body double”)
47. Texas landmark ALAMO
51. Two-man Army helicopters APACHES
52. Nonverbal communication ... and what the starts of 20-, 27- and 43-Across can be BODY LANGUAGE
56. Spirited horse ARAB
57. Like some dorms COED
58. PlugIns Scented Oil maker GLADE
62. Multigenerational tale SAGA
63. Sharpen HONE
64. Haunted, say EERIE
65. Marked, as a ballot EXED
66. Squeezed (out) EKED
67. Ward off REPEL

Down
1. Tipper's 15: Abbr. PCT
2. Use oars ROW
3. Org. promoting hunter safety NRA
4. Navigational hazard DENSE FOG
5. Southern California's __ Beach LAGUNA
6. Classified listing WANT AD
7. Skin care brand with an Active Botanicals line OLAY
8. Middle: Pref. MESO-
9. Sweetheart BEAU
10. Lightweight wood BALSA
11. Ram in the sky ARIES
12. Like bread made into stuffing, perhaps STALE
13. Feudal servants SERFS
21. What a keeper may keep INN
22. Two-legged zebras? REFS
23. Remark to the audience ASIDE
24. Film with nakedness NUDIE
25. Financial dept. TREAS
28. Green digit? THUMB
29. Onetime Egypt-Syria fed. UAR
30. Sandwich bread RYE
33. Place for a crown or cap TOOTH
34. Lawn bowling game BOCCE
35. Pharaohs' crosses ANKHS
37. Norah Jones'"What Am __ You?" I TO
38. Modern, in Munich NEU
39. "Enter the Dragon" martial artist BRUCE LEE
41. Hollywood favorite IDOL
44. Praised LAUDED
45. Waste watchers: Abbr. EPA
46. Cloak's partner DAGGER
47. Put down ABASE
48. Seuss' environmental advocate LORAX
49. Words of wisdom ADAGE
50. "Oops, sorry" MY BAD
53. Yearn (for) ACHE
54. Corner for breakfast NOOK
55. Trait carrier GENE
59. Dadaist Jean ARP
60. Yahtzee cube DIE
61. Slender fish EEL


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Like many knock-knock jokes CORNY

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Irish
Irish who?
Irish you in the name of the law!

6. Fit together, as some Russian dolls NEST
Matryoshka dolls are those wooden nesting dolls that are on sale at every tourist trap across Russia. “Matryoshka” is Russian for “little matron”.

16. Magazine with annual Style Awards ELLE
The Elle Style Awards have been presented annually since 2002 by “Elle” magazine.

17. Impressionist who was frequently a guest of Johnny Carson RICH LITTLE (with sides of “RICE”)
Rich Little is a Canadian-born impersonator, known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices”. He lives in Las Vegas, and there was sworn in as a US citizen just a few years ago, in 2008.

Johnny Carson hosted “The Tonight Show” for thirty years, from 1962 to 1992. Although Carson was the first choice to take over the show from Jack Paar, he initially declined. Carson eventually took the job, after it had also been declined by Bob Newhart, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx and Joey Bishop.

21. Org. with Wizards and Magic NBA
The Washington Wizards are the professional basketball team based in the nation’s capital. The franchise began playing in Chicago as the Packers, in 1961. One year later, the Chicago team changed its name to the Zephyrs. After one more season, the franchise relocated and became the Baltimore Bullets. In 1973, the team moved to Landover, Maryland to became the Capital Bullets, and then took the Washington Bullets name the following season. The final name change came in 1995, as the owner was uncomfortable with the violent images conjured up by the “Bullets” name. The Wizards name was chosen after a fan contest.

The Orlando Magic were formed in 1989 as an NBA expansion team. A local paper was asked to run a competition to suggest names for the new team and the community came up with its four top picks of "Heat", "Tropics", "Juice" and "Magic". A committee then opted for "Orlando Magic". A good choice I think ...

23. __ tai MAI
The Mai Tai cocktail is strongly associated with the Polynesian islands, but the drink was supposedly invented in 1944 in Trader Vic's restaurant in Oakland, California. One recipe is 6 parts white rum, 3 parts orange curaçao, 3 parts Orgeat syrup, 1 part rock candy syrup, 2 parts fresh lime juice, all mixed with ice and then a float added of 6 parts dark rum.

29. Clearasil shelfmate OXY
The OXY Skin Care products were developed by GlaxoSmithKline, but the brand name has been owned by Mentholatum since 2005.

Clearasil acne medication was developed in 1940 by Ivan Combe and Kedzie Teller. Combe promoted the product by sponsoring the television show “American Bandstand” for many years.

31. Less-filling brews LITES
The first light beer was produced by Chicago's Meister Brau brewery in the sixties. Miller took over Meister Brau, reformulated the light beer using the same process and became the first of the big breweries to come out with a light beer, "Lite Beer from Miller" introduced in 1973. There really wasn't a serious competitor to Miller Lite until Anheuser-Busch finally came up with a process and a product in 1982 that they called Bud Light.

32. Phoenix-to-Albuquerque dir. ENE
The city of Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona. Home to almost 1.5 million people, Phoenix is the most populous state capital in the country.

Albuquerque is the most populous city in the state of New Mexico. The city was founded in 1706 as a Spanish colonial outpost named “La Villa de Alburquerque” (note the extra letter R) in honor of Francisco, Duke of Alburquerque, who had been viceroy of New Spain from 1653 to 1669. Alburquerque is a town in the west of Spain, close to the border with Portugal.

34. Statute that protects source confidentiality in journalism SHIELD LAW (with sides of “SLAW”)
When a news reporter exercises a legal right not to divulge a source of information, he or she is taking advantage of a “shield law”, which gives some legal protection to the reporter and informant. There is no federal shield law, but a majority of the US states have shield laws in place.

41. Govt. stipend SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is federal program that provides financial relief to persons with low incomes who are 65 or older, or who are blind or disabled. The SSI program is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) even though the the Social Security trust fund is not used for SSI payments. SSI payments come out of general tax revenue.

42. Gem weight CARAT
A carat is a unit of mass used in measuring gemstones that is equal to 200 mg.

47. Health club SPA
The word "spa" migrated into English from Belgium, as Spa is the name of a municipality in the east of the country that is famous for its healing hot springs. The name "Spa" comes from the Walloon word "espa" meaning "spring, fountain".

48. Golfer's booking TEE TIME
A “tee time” is a reservation made at a golf course to start a round of golf (“tee off”) at a particular time.

50. Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly BEAUTY ICONS (with sides of “BEANS”)
Marilyn Monroe was born in 1926 in LA County Hospital, the child of Gladys Pearl Baker. The young girl was given the name of Norma Jeane Mortenson on her birth certificate, but her mother changed this to Norma Jeane Baker almost immediately. She and her estranged husband, Martin Edward Mortensen, had separated before Baker became pregnant so it is suggested that the Mortensen name was used just to give Norma Jeane "legitimacy". Norma Jeane married a Jim Dougherty when she 16 years old, and took his name to become Norma Jeane Dougherty in 1932. During WWII she was discovered by a photographer and became quite a successful model. The modelling earned her a screen test, at which time it was suggested that Norma Jean change her name yet again. The first name chosen for her by studio executives was Carole Lind (after Carole Lombard and Jenny Lind), but then Norma Jeane chose "Jeane Monroe" for herself, using her mother's maiden name. It didn't take long before the studio intervened again, suggesting that they had too many "Jeans" already. The name Marilyn Monroe was floated as it had a nice ring to it. Along with the new name, Marilyn changed from a brunette to a blonde, and a star was born ...

The lovely American actress Grace Kelly led the US delegation to the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 and there she met Prince Rainier III, at a photo-op in the Palace of Monaco. Twelve months later the pair were married and Kelly retired from acting at the age of 26. She suffered a stroke while driving her car in 1982, not long before her 53rd birthday. Kelly died in the resulting car crash but her daughter, Princess Stéphanie, survived the accident.

54. On edge ANTSY
The word "antsy" embodies the concept of "having ants in one's pants", meaning being nervous and fidgety. However, "antsy" has been used in English since the 1830s, whereas "ants in the pants" originated a century later.

55. Jackie's second ARI
Jackie Kennedy Onassis was born into a privileged family, the daughter of a Wall Street stock broker, John Vernou Bouvier III. Ms. Bouvier moved in the same social circles as the Kennedy clan, and first met the then-US Representative John Kennedy at a dinner party hosted by mutual friends. After she saw her husband assassinated, and then her brother-in-law Bobby Kennedy, she declared that she feared for the life of her children as they bore the Kennedy name. She left the country, eventually meeting and marrying Aristotle Onassis. Reportedly she was very satisfied that the Greek shipping magnate was able to provide privacy and security for her children.

56. Founded: Abbr. ESTD
Established (estd.)

57. City near Tahoe RENO
The city of Reno’s economy took off when open gambling was legalized in Nevada in 1931. Within a short time, a syndicate had built the Bank Club in Reno, which was the largest casino in the whole world at the time.

Lake Tahoe is up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, right on the border between California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the country, and the largest lake in general, behind the five Great Lakes. It's also the second deepest lake, with only the beautiful Crater Lake in Oregon being deeper. Given its location, there are tall casinos that sit right on the shore on the Nevada side of the state line where gambling is legal.

61. "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Andrews ERIN
Erin Andrews is a sports reporter. I don’t watch much in the line of sports but I do know Ms. Andrews for her appearances on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. She did quite well and made it to the final of the show. And now, she is the show’s co-host alongside Tom Bergeron.

62. Tan shade ECRU
The shade called ecru is a grayish, yellowish brown. The word "ecru" comes from French and means "raw, unbleached". "Ecru" has the same roots as our word "crude".

Down
1. Snickers ingredient CARAMEL
Snickers is a candy bar made by Mars. When I was growing up in Ireland, the same candy bar was sold as a Marathon. The name was changed in Europe to Snickers in 1990. 75% of the world’s Snickers bars are made in the Mars factory in Waco, Texas.

2. Paper work? ORIGAMI
Origami is the traditional Japanese art form of paper folding. The best-known example of the craft is the paper crane. The word “origami” is derived from “ori“ (folding) and “kami” (paper).

5. Paris fashion monogram YSL
Yves Saint-Laurent (YSL) was a French fashion designer, actually born in Algeria. Saint-Laurent started off working as an assistant to Christian Dior at the age of 17. Dior died just four years later, and as a very young man Saint-Laurent was named head of the House of Dior. However, in 1950 Saint-Laurent was conscripted into the French Army and ended up in a military hospital after suffering a mental breakdown after the hazing inflicted on him by his fellow soldiers. His treatment included electroshock therapy and administration of sedatives and psychoactive drugs. He was released from prison, managed to pull his life back together and started his own fashion house. A remarkable story ...

8. Mo. town STL
The city of Saint Louis, Missouri was founded by French explorers in 1763. Sitting on the Mississippi River it grew into a very busy port. By the 1850s was the second busiest port in the country, with only New York moving more freight.

9. With 25-Down, what America is across, to Brits THE …
(25D. See 9-Down … POND)
The Atlantic Ocean has been referred to as “the pond” for quite a long time. The expression dates back to the 1640s.

18. Memo starter IN RE
The term "in re" is Latin, derived from "in" (in) and "res" (thing, matter). "In re" literally means "in the matter", and is used to mean "in regard to", or "in the matter of".

26. Jump on ice AXEL
An Axel is a forward take-off jump in figure skating. It was first performed by Norwegian Axel Paulsen at the 1882 World Figure Skating championships.

28. Hardy title teenager TESS
The full name of Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel is "Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented". When it was originally published, "Tess ..." received very mixed reviews, largely because it addressed some difficult sexual themes including rape, and sexual double standards (attitudes towards men vs women). I suppose the most celebrated screen adaptation is Roman Polanski's "Tess" released in 1979. Polanski apparently made "Tess" because his wife, Sharon Tate, gave him Hardy's novel as her last act before she was murdered by the Manson family. There is a dedication at the beginning of the movie that just says "To Sharon".

32. Yalie ELI
Eli is the nickname for a graduate of Yale University, a term used in honor of the Yale benefactor Elihu Yale.

36. Morales of "NYPD Blue"ESAI
The actor Esai Morales is best known for his role in the 1987 movie "La Bamba", which depicted the life of Ritchie Valens and his half-brother Bob Morales (played by Esai).

"NYPD Blue" is a police drama that was originally aired in 1993, and ran until 2005. Stars of the show are Dennis Franz, David Caruso, Jimmy Smits and Rick Schroder. The show created a bit of a fuss back in the nineties as it featured a relatively large amount of nudity for broadcast television.

37. Air Force heroes ACES
A flying ace is an aviator who has shot down a number of enemy planes during combat. The qualifying number of kills seems to vary, but five is common. The first use of "ace" was during WWI when the French newspapers dubbed pilot Adolphe Pegoud "l'as" (French for "the ace") when he shot down his fifth German plane.

38. Musical with nightclub scenes CABARET
The musical "Cabaret" is based on "I Am a Camera", a 1951 play written by John Van Druten. In turn, the play was adapted from a novel "Goodbye to Berlin" written by Christopher Isherwood. The action in the musical takes place in the 1930s, in a seedy Berlin cabaret called the Kit Kat Club. "Cabaret" is a great stage musical, although the 1972 film of the musical isn't one of my favorites.

39. 1968 to now, in pro tennis OPEN ERA
In the sport of tennis, the Grand Slam tournaments were opened up to professional players, and not just amateurs, in 1968. So, the period since 1968 has been called "The Open Era".

43. Drummer's joke punctuation RIMSHOT
A rimshot is a sound made when a drummer hits the head of a drum and the rim at the same time. It’s a sound often used by comics to help punctuate a gag.

49. Author Blyton ENID
Enid Blyton wrote stories for children that were very popular when I was growing up in the British Isles. Not so long ago I purchased and reread my favorite of her stories growing up, a children’s novel called "The Secret Island".

51. Me.-to-Fla. route US-ONE
US Route 1 runs from Fort Kent in Maine right down to Key West in Florida.

52. Core group CADRE
A "cadre" is most commonly a group of experienced personnel at the core of a larger organization that the small group trains or heavily influences. "Cadre" is a French word meaning a "frame". We use it in the sense that a cadre is a group that provides a "framework" for the larger organization.

56. Channel with numerous sister channels ESPN
ESPN is the Entertainment Sports Programming Network, a cable network that broadcasts sports programming 24 hours a day. ESPN was launched back in 1979.

60. "Woe __": 1996 grammar book IS I
Patricia O'Conner has written five books about the English language, including "Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English". What a great subject for a book! I need to buy it for my kids (and probably should take a peek myself) ...

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Like many knock-knock jokes CORNY
6. Fit together, as some Russian dolls NEST
10. Commando ploy RAID
14. Square measures AREAS
15. Pledge OATH
16. Magazine with annual Style Awards ELLE
17. Impressionist who was frequently a guest of Johnny Carson RICH LITTLE (with sides of “RICE”)
19. Ink stain BLOT
20. Quite a while AGES
21. Org. with Wizards and Magic NBA
22. Hard-to-hit pitch CURVE
23. __ tai MAI
24. Greek gatherings? FRAT PARTIES (with sides of “FRIES”)
27. Cleared (out) EMPTIED
29. Clearasil shelfmate OXY
30. Be in session SIT
31. Less-filling brews LITES
32. Phoenix-to-Albuquerque dir. ENE
33. Movie backdrops SETS
34. Statute that protects source confidentiality in journalism SHIELD LAW (with sides of “SLAW”)
38. Column on a decision maker's list CONS
41. Govt. stipend SSI
42. Gem weight CARAT
46. Copy APE
47. Health club SPA
48. Golfer's booking TEE TIME
50. Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly BEAUTY ICONS (with sides of “BEANS”)
53. "Holy cow!" MAN!
54. On edge ANTSY
55. Jackie's second ARI
56. Founded: Abbr. ESTD
57. City near Tahoe RENO
58. Menu listing literally represented by this puzzle's circles SIDE DISHES
61. "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Andrews ERIN
62. Tan shade ECRU
63. Teapot part SPOUT
64. Viewpoint TAKE
65. Show sorrow or joy WEEP
66. "101" class, briefly INTRO

Down
1. Snickers ingredient CARAMEL
2. Paper work? ORIGAMI
3. Exchange need RECEIPT
4. Slangy turndowns NAHS
5. Paris fashion monogram YSL
6. "Pretty good!" NOT BAD!
7. Frequent, as a diner EAT AT
8. Mo. town STL
9. With 25-Down, what America is across, to Brits THE ...
10. Contradict in court REBUT
11. Court order? ALL RISE
12. "This is awesome!" I LOVE IT!
13. Loathes DETESTS
18. Memo starter IN RE
22. Show sorrow or joy CRY
24. Bass, e.g. FISH
25. See 9-Down … POND
26. Jump on ice AXEL
28. Hardy title teenager TESS
32. Yalie ELI
33. Hit SWAT
35. Road trip guessing game I SPY
36. Morales of "NYPD Blue" ESAI
37. Air Force heroes ACES
38. Musical with nightclub scenes CABARET
39. 1968 to now, in pro tennis OPEN ERA
40. Fastidious sort NEATNIK
43. Drummer's joke punctuation RIMSHOT
44. Hobbyist AMATEUR
45. Sees after TENDS TO
47. Muddy digs STY
48. Ripped to shreds TORE UP
49. Author Blyton ENID
51. Me.-to-Fla. route US-ONE
52. Core group CADRE
56. Channel with numerous sister channels ESPN
58. Patch, perhaps SEW
59. Diamonds, slangily ICE
60. "Woe __": 1996 grammar book IS I


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Tousle MUSS
A “muss” is state of disorder, and a term that probably evolved from “mess”. The phrase “no muss, no fuss” means “no bother, no mess made, no excessive hustle and bustle”.

5. F and G, e.g. CLEFS
Clef is the French word for "key". In music, a clef is used to indicate the pitch of the notes written on the stave. Usually, a G-clef is used for high parts, a C-clef for middle parts and an F-clef for low parts.

15. Spells HEXES
"Hexen" is a German word meaning "to practice witchcraft". The use of the word "hex" in English started with the Pennsylvania Dutch in the early 1800s.

16. Virginie, par exemple ETAT
In French, “Virginie, par exemple” (Virginia, for example) is an “état” (state).

17. "Need You Tonight" band INXS
INXS (pronounced “in excess”) was a rock band from Australia. The band formed in 1977 in Sydney as the Farriss Brothers, as three of the original lineups were indeed brothers.

18. *Start of an old news announcement EXTRA EXTRA!
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

20. Frequent Lemmon co-star MATTHAU
The actor Walter Matthau was born in the Lower East Side of New York City. Matthau is remembered for many collaborations on the big screen with Jack Lemmon. Matthau and Lemmon passed away within a year of each other, both having suffered from colon cancer, and are buried in the same cemetery in Los Angeles.

23. Dublin-born poet YEATS
Irish poet and dramatist William Butler Yeats won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 for "inspired poetry" that gave "expression to a whole nation". Yeats was Ireland's first Nobel laureate.

24. AWOL trackers MPS
The Military Police (MPs) often track down personnel who go AWOL(absent without leave).

27. Shine, in Cambridge LUSTRE
The famous university city of Cambridge in the England takes its name from an Old English term meaning “Bridge on the River Granta”. The river in question is now called the River Cam, with “Cam” being a back formation from “Cambridge”.

29. Ammunition dumps ARSENALS
Our word "arsenal" comes from the Italian "arzenale", a work adapted from the Arabic for "workshop". There was a large wharf in Venice called the Arzenale that became associated with the storage of weapons and ammunition, and this led to our contemporary usage of "arsenal".

31. Request to Sajak AN I
Pat Sajak took over the hosting of "Wheel of Fortune" from Chuck Woolery back in 1983 and has been doing the job ever since. Sajak had a short run as a talk show host in 1989/1990 and used to sub quite often for Larry King and Regis Philbin.

32. *Stipulation on le menu PRIX FIXE
On a restaurant menu, items that are "à la carte" are priced and ordered separately. A menu marked "table d'hôte" (also called "prix fixe") is a fixed-price menu with limited choice.

36. Progressive pitcher? FLO
Progressive is a popular auto insurance company, the one that uses the perky character named “Flo” as a spokeswoman. Flo is played by comedienne and actress Stephanie Courtney.

37. When there's no turning back D-DAY
The most famous D-Day in history was June 6, 1944, the date of the Normandy landings in WWII. The term "D-Day" is used by the military to designate the day on which a combat operations are to be launched, especially when the actual date has yet to be determined. What D stands for seems to have been lost in the mists of time although the tradition is that D just stands for "Day". In fact, the French have a similar term, "Jour J" (Day J), with a similar meaning. We also use H-Hour to denote the hour the attack is to commence.

46. Tulsa sch. ORU
Oral Roberts University (ORU) is a private school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ORU was founded relatively recently, in 1963 by the late televangelist Oral Roberts. The campus includes a Prayer Tower at its center, a spectacular glass and steel structure designed by architect Frank Wallace. The tower includes an observation deck, and is a popular tourist attraction. The school’s sports teams are known as the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.

52. Cambodia's Lon __ NOL
Lon Nol was a soldier and politician in Cambodia, later serving twice as the country's president. When the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975, Nol escaped the country to Indonesia. He eventually found a home in Fullerton, California, where he died in 1985.

The Kingdom of Cambodia is located in the Indochina Peninsula of Southeast Asia, and is bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand. “Cambodia” is the English version of the country’s name, which in Khmer is “Kampuchea”.

53. Enzyme suffix -ASE
The names of enzymes usually includes the suffix “-ase”. Enzymes are basically catalysts, chemicals that act to increase the rate of a particular chemical reaction. For example, starches will break down into sugars over time, especially under the right conditions. However, in the presence of the enzyme amylase (found in saliva) this production of sugar happens very, very quickly.

55. Northeastern octet IVIES
The term “Ivy League” originally defined an athletic conference, but now it is used to describe a group of schools of higher education that are associated with both a long tradition and academic excellence. The eight Ivy League Schools are: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.

60. *Nachos, e.g. TEX-MEX DISH
The dish known as “nachos” were supposedly created by the maître d' at a restaurant called the Victory Club in the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. The name of the maître d' was Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya.

64. Peach __ FUZZ
“Peach fuzz” is the familiar name for “vellus hair”, the fine hair that is most visible on children and adult women. Vellus hair tends to be masked by what’s called terminal or androgenic hair in adult males. Vellus hair helps with cooling of the body. When a skin pore opens to sweat, the sweat wets a vellus hair, which provides a surface for evaporative cooling.

66. Ken Jenkins's "Scrubs" role KELSO
On the TV show "Scrubs". Bob Kelso M.D. is played by actor Ken Jenkins. Kelso's wife is Enid, someone he talks about a lot although she is never seen in the show. Enid is described as morbidly obese and neurotic. She was also paralyzed in an accident and uses a wheelchair.

67. CVI halved LIII
106/2 = 53

68. Old map divs. SSRS
Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR)

69. "Dallas" Miss ELLIE
Miss Ellie is the matriarch of the famed Ewing family, around which the TV series "Dallas" was written. For most of the series, Miss Ellie was played by Barbara Bel Geddes, and once in a TV movie of Dallas by Molly Hagan. Barbara Bel Geddes left the show in 1984 and was replaced by the celebrated actress Donna Reed. When Bel Geddes decided to return to the show the following year, Reed was fired. This was much to Reed's chagrin, and so a lawsuit ensued.

70. North-of-the-border gas ESSO
The brand name Esso has its roots in the old Standard Oil company as it uses the initial letters of "Standard" and "Oil" (ESS-O). The Esso brand was replaced by Exxon in the US, but ESSO is still used in many other countries.

Down
2. Radius neighbor ULNA
The radius and ulna are bones in the forearm. If you hold the palm of your hand up in front of you, the radius is the bone on the "thumb-side" of the arm, and the ulna is the bone on the "pinkie-side".

3. *Historic Chicago-to-Santa Monica route SIXTY-SIX
The famous old highway called Route 66 has largely been replaced by modern interstates. It ran from Chicago to Santa Monica, right through the heart of America, and so it was often called the "Main Street of America". The road gained some notoriety because of Nat King Cole's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66", and also because of the sixties TV show called "Route 66".

4. Largish combo SESTET
A sextet (also “sestet”) is a group of six.

5. Proctor's concern CHEATER
A "proctor" is a supervisor, especially of an examination in a school, or perhaps of a dormitory. The word "proctor" originated in the late 1500s, a contraction of the word "procurator", the name given to an official agent of a church.

6. Infiniti competitor LEXUS
Lexus is a division of the Toyota Motor Company, and is Toyota's luxury brand. As an aside, Infiniti is the equivalent luxury brand for the Nissan Motor Company, and Acura is the more luxurious version of Honda’s models.

9. Fed. benefits agency SSA
The Social Security Administration (SSA) was set up as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The first person to receive a monthly retirement benefit was Ida May Fuller of Vermont who received her first check for the sum of $22.54 after having contributed for three years through payroll taxes. The New Deal turned out to be a good deal for Ms. Fuller, as she lived to 100 years of age and received a total benefit of almost $23,000, whereas her three years of contributions added up to just $24.75.

10. Stimulating message SEXT
"Sexting" (a portmanteau of "sex" and "texting") is the sending of explicit dialog and images between cell phones. The term "sexting" was first coined by the UK's "Sunday Telegraph Magazine" in a 2005 article. Apparently the practice is "rampant" among teens and young adults. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie ...?

11. Senators' home OTTAWA
The Senators are the NHL hockey team in Ottawa, Canada. The current team, founded in the 1992-93 season, is the second NHL team in the city to use the name "Senators". The original team was founded in 1917 and had a very successful run until the league expanded into the US in the late twenties. The cost of operating in what became the smallest NHL city eventually drove the Senators to St. Louis where they played for a year as the Eagles before finally folding.

12. Part of UPS PARCEL
United Parcel Service (UPS) is based in Sandy Springs, Georgia and has its own airline that operates out of Louisville, Kentucky.

19. County bordering Suffolk ESSEX
Essex is a county in England, referred to as one of the “home counties”. The home counties are the counties that surround the city of London, outside of London itself. "Home county" is not an official designation but has been in popular use since the 1800s.

Suffolk is a county on the east coast of England that is home to Felixstowe, which is one of the largest container ports in Europe. Suffolk lies just south of the county of Norfolk. Back in the day, the “north folk” lived in “Norfolk” and the “south folk” lived in Suffolk.

21. Dwell annoyingly (on) HARP
“To harp on” something is to talk too much about it. The original expression with the same meaning was “to harp on the same string”, a reference to the musical instrument.

24. "Fantastic" Dahl character MR FOX
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a children’s novel by Roald Dahl. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was adapted into a 2006 animated film directed by Wes Anderson.

Roald Dahl's name is Norwegian. Dahl's parents were from Norway, although Dahl himself was Welsh. Dahl became one of the most successful authors of the twentieth century. Two of his most famous titles are "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

25. Initials on a radial PSI
Pounds per square inch (PSI) is a measure of pressure.

28. Lyon article UNE
"Une" is the French word for "a", but only when used with a feminine noun (like "une dame": a lady).

The city of Lyon in France, is also known as “Lyons” in English. It is located in the central eastern part of the country, where major rivers the Rhône and the Saône meet.

30. Composer Rorem NED
American composer Ned Rorem is famous for his musical compositions, but also for his book, "Paris Diary of Ned Rorem" that was published in 1966. Rorem talks openly about his sexuality in the book, and also about the sexuality of others including Noel Coward, Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber, much to some people’s chagrin.

33. "__ shoe fits ... "IF THE
The phrase “if the shoe fits, wear it” is used on this side of the Atlantic to mean “if the statement applies to you, then admit it”. The adage is a variant of the earlier English phrase “if the cap fits, wear it”. There is a similar phrase from even earlier in the 16th century, referring to the fit of a cloak.

35. Literary assortment ANA
An ana (plural “anas”) is a collection, perhaps of literature, that represents the character of a particular place or a person. Ana can be used as a noun or as a suffix (e.g. Americana).

38. When translated to English, beer brand that hints at the common feature of the five other longest puzzle answers DOS EQUIS
Dos Equis lager was originally brewed in 1897, and back then was called "Siglo XX" (20th century) to celebrate the arrival of the new century. The name was changed later to simply "Dos Equis" (two exes).

39. "We __ Marshall": 2006 film ARE
The 2006 drama film “We Are Marshall” tells the true story of a 1970 plane crash that killed 37 Marshall University football players as well as many of the team’s support staff.

40. Brynner of filmdom YUL
Yul Brynner was a Russian-born actor. Brynner was well known for his great performances, but also for his shaved head and his deep rich voice. He first adopted the "hairstyle" while playing the King of Siam in the stage version of "The King and I", and he stuck with it.

43. Some Cadillacs XTS
The Cadillac XTS is a luxury sedan that went into production in 2012. The XTS is assembled in two GM locations, in Oshawa, Ontario and in Shanghai, China.

44. Scott classic IVANHOE
"Ivanhoe" is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, set in 12th-century England.

Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist and playwright, the first English-language author to gain popularity around the world during his own lifetime. The most famous of his works are "Ivanhoe", "Rob Roy" and "The Lady of the Lake".

47. Hall of Fame Colts quarterback UNITAS
Footballer Johnny Unitas was nicknamed "the Golden Arm" as well as "Johnny U". Unitas played in the fifties through the seventies, mainly for the Baltimore Colts. He held the record for throwing touchdown passes in consecutive games (47 games) for 52 years, until it was surpassed in 2012 by Drew Brees.

48. Grisham output NOVELS
John Grisham is a lawyer and an incredibly successful author best known for his legal thrillers. After graduating from law school, Grisham practiced law for about ten years and then went into politics. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives for six years, during which time he wrote his first novel, “A Time to Kill”.

49. Potion ELIXIR
An elixir is a solution of alcohol and water that is used to deliver a medicine. The term “elixir” can also be used to mean a medicine that has the power to cure all ills.

54. Low voices BASSI
The bass is the lowest male singing voice. A man with such a voice might be called a “basso” (plural “bassi”).

56. First responders, initially EMTS
Emergency medical technician (EMT)

58. Israeli arms UZIS
The first Uzi submachine gun was designed in the late 1940s by Major Uziel “Uzi” Gal of the Israel Defense Forces, who gave his name to the gun.

59. Opera star Pinza EZIO
Ezio Pinza was an opera singer from Italy. Pinza performed for many years with the Metropolitan Opera in New York before retiring from the Met in 1948. He then launched a career on Broadway and in Hollywood.

61. Classic Jag XKE
Jaguar started out as a manufacturer of sidecars for motorcycles back in 1922, when the company was known as the Swallow Sidecar Company (SS for short). The company changed its name to Jaguar after WWII, because of the unfortunate connotations of the letters "SS" at that time.

62. "Small Wonder" state: Abbr. DEL
The state of Delaware has several nicknames, including the First State, the Small Wonder, the Blue Hen State and the Diamond State.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Tousle MUSS
5. F and G, e.g. CLEFS
10. Soaks (up) SOPS
14. Bad thing to be caught in A LIE
15. Spells HEXES
16. Virginie, par exemple ETAT
17. "Need You Tonight" band INXS
18. *Start of an old news announcement EXTRA EXTRA!
20. Frequent Lemmon co-star MATTHAU
22. Chimney STACK
23. Dublin-born poet YEATS
24. AWOL trackers MPS
26. Tiny WEE
27. Shine, in Cambridge LUSTRE
29. Ammunition dumps ARSENALS
31. Request to Sajak AN I
32. *Stipulation on le menu PRIX FIXE
34. Numerical prefix HEXA-
36. Progressive pitcher? FLO
37. When there's no turning back D-DAY
41. *Where gas and lodging may be found NEXT EXIT
46. Tulsa sch. ORU
47. Brings to light UNEARTHS
50. Pitcher, for one VESSEL
52. Cambodia's Lon __ NOL
53. Enzyme suffix -ASE
54. Moisten, in a way BASTE
55. Northeastern octet IVIES
57. Old but coveted ANTIQUE
60. *Nachos, e.g. TEX-MEX DISH
64. Peach __ FUZZ
65. Landed ALIT
66. Ken Jenkins's "Scrubs" role KELSO
67. CVI halved LIII
68. Old map divs. SSRS
69. "Dallas" Miss ELLIE
70. North-of-the-border gas ESSO

Down
1. Injure badly MAIM
2. Radius neighbor ULNA
3. *Historic Chicago-to-Santa Monica route SIXTY-SIX
4. Largish combo SESTET
5. Proctor's concern CHEATER
6. Infiniti competitor LEXUS
7. No. after a phone no. EXT
8. Not agin FER
9. Fed. benefits agency SSA
10. Stimulating message SEXT
11. Senators' home OTTAWA
12. Part of UPS PARCEL
13. Betting specifications STAKES
19. County bordering Suffolk ESSEX
21. Dwell annoyingly (on) HARP
24. "Fantastic" Dahl character MR FOX
25. Initials on a radial PSI
27. "Well, __-di-dah!" LAH
28. Lyon article UNE
29. Weigh station counts AXLES
30. Composer Rorem NED
33. "__ shoe fits ... " IF THE
35. Literary assortment ANA
38. When translated to English, beer brand that hints at the common feature of the five other longest puzzle answers DOS EQUIS
39. "We __ Marshall": 2006 film ARE
40. Brynner of filmdom YUL
42. Wipe off ERASE
43. Some Cadillacs XTS
44. Scott classic IVANHOE
45. Try TEST
47. Hall of Fame Colts quarterback UNITAS
48. Grisham output NOVELS
49. Potion ELIXIR
51. Suppress STIFLE
54. Low voices BASSI
56. First responders, initially EMTS
58. Israeli arms UZIS
59. Opera star Pinza EZIO
61. Classic Jag XKE
62. "Small Wonder" state: Abbr. DEL
63. In need of treatment ILL


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
8. Red herring, to a cop BAD LEAD
The exact origin of the term “red herring”, meaning “something that misleads”, isn’t known. The most common explanation for the use of the phrase is that kippers (strong-smelling smoked herrings) were used to by fugitives to distract bloodhounds who were on their trail. Kippers become red-colored during the smoking process, and are no longer “white herrings”.

15. Athens eatery TAVERNA
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a history that goes back around 3,400 years. In its heyday, Classical Athens was a remarkable center for the arts and philosophical debate, and was home to Plato and Aristotle. Athens is often called “the cradle of Western civilization” and “the birthplace of democracy”. The city was named for the Greek goddess Athena.

16. Where to view "Duck Dynasty"ON A AND E
The A&E television network used to be a favorite of mine, with the "A&E" standing for "arts and entertainment". A&E started out airing a lot of the old classic dramas, as well as biographies and arts programs. Now there seems to be more reality TV, with one of the flagship programs being "Dog the Bounty Hunter". A slight change of direction I'd say ...

“Duck Dynasty” is a reality television show on the A&E cable channel. The show is centered on the Robertson family from Monroe, Louisiana who made a lot of money selling products to duck hunters. Phil Robertson was in the news awhile back for views he expressed on homeosexuality and other subjects in an interview with “GQ” magazine.

17. Oath sworn in a kosher kitchen? ABOVE ALL, DO NO HAM (sounds like “above all, do no harm”)
“First, do no harm” is a translation of the Latin phrase “Primum non nocere”. The phrase is a principle used in the world of medicine that reminds a provider of healthcare that to do nothing might be better than intervening in some situations.

According to Jewish dietary law, "kosher" food is "fit" to eat, and food that is not kosher is called "treif" (or tref).

20. Le Mans law LOI
Le Mans is a city in northwestern France. The city is famous for the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race that has been held annually since 1923. The 24-hour race uses the city’s race track, but closed city streets are also used for part of the circuit.

21. Great Plains tribe OSAGE
The Osage Nation originated in the Ohio River valley in what we now call Kentucky. They were forced to migrate west of the Mississippi by the invading Iroquois tribe. Most of the tribe members now live in Osage County, Oklahoma.

22. 9-Down opener ENERO
(9D. Munich : Jahr :: Madrid : __ ANO)
In Spanish, “el año” (the year) starts in “enero” (January) and ends in “diciembre” (December).

23. '50s pres. candidate AES
Adlai Stevenson (AES) ran for president unsuccessfully against Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and in 1956. Some years after his second defeat, Stevenson served under President Kennedy as Ambassador to the United Nations. Stevenson was always noted for his eloquence and he had a famous exchange in a UN Security Council meeting during the Cuban missile crisis. Stevenson bluntly demanded that the Soviet representative on the council tell the world if the USSR was installing nuclear weapons in Cuba. His words were "Don't wait for the translation, answer 'yes' or 'no'!" followed by "I am prepared to wait for my answer until Hell freezes over!"

25. Long of "Third Watch"NIA
Nia Long is an American actress, probably best known for playing Will Smith's sometime girlfriend and fiancee Lisa Wilkes on the TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air".

“Third Watch” is a crime drama series about teams of police officers, firefighters and paramedics who worked the same 3pm - 11pm shift in a New York precinct. “Third Watch” originally aired from 1999 to 2005.

26. New Year's Eve get-togethers? DATES
A couple might get together for a date on New Year's Eve.

27. Double-dealing in Delhi? INDIAN CON (sounds like “Indian corn”)
New Delhi is the capital city of India. New Delhi resides within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (otherwise known as the metropolis of Delhi). New Delhi and Delhi, therefore, are two different things.

30. "A symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal": Steinbeck WAR
John Steinbeck was born not far from here, in Salinas, California in 1902. His most famous novels are probably "The Grapes of Wrath" from 1939, "East of Eden" from 1952 and the novella "Of Mice and Men" from 1937. For his work, Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

31. Old knives SNEES
"Snick or snee" is the name given to cut and thrust while fighting with a knife. The phrase is rooted in a pair of Dutch words and it gave its name to a "snee", a light sword-like knife.

32. Cutthroat entrepreneur? BUSINESS CAD (sounds like “business card”)
Our word "cad", meaning "a person lacking in finer feelings", is a shortening of the word "cadet". "Cad" was first used for a servant, and then students at British universities used "cad" as a term for a boy from the local town. "Cad" took on its current meaning in the 1830s.

An “entrepreneur” is someone takes on most aspects of a business venture, from the original idea to the execution. The term is imported from French, with “entreprendre” meaning “to undertake”. The original usage in English dates back to the early 1800s, when it applied to a manager and promoter of a theatrical production.

37. Six-time '70s Dodger All-Star CEY
Ron Cey played third base for the Dodgers, the Cubs and the As.

38. Demand from a Stooge fan? SHOW ME MOE (sounds like “show me more”)
Moe Howard was the stage name of Moses Harry Horwitz. Howard was one of the Three Stooges. In 1925, he married Helen Schonberger, who was a cousin of Harry Houdini.

45. Lobbying gp. PAC
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a private group that works to influence the outcome of a particular election or group of elections. Any group becomes a PAC by law when it receives or spends more than $1,000 for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election. In 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that PACS that did not make direct contributions to candidates or parties could accept unlimited contributions. These “independent-expenditure only committees” are commonly referred to as “super PACs”.

46. Neighbor of Turk. SYR
The modern state that we know as Syria was established after WWI as a French mandate. Syria was granted independence from France in 1946.

48. Riches LUCRE
Our word “lucre” meaning “money, profits” comes from the Latin “lucrum” that means the same thing.

51. Deg. for drillers DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

54. "Stir-frying is an option, too"? I COULD USE THE WOK (sounds like “I could use the work”)
“Wok” is a Cantonese word, the name for the frying pan now used in many Asian cuisines.

57. Nervous __ NELLIES
A nervous Nellie is someone easily upset and hesitant to act. The term comes from "Old Nell", a name often used for a nag. “Nervous Nellie” was originally used to describe a highly-strung racehorse.

60. Gold rush figure ASSAYER
An assayer carries out a metallurgical assay to determine the composition of ore found in a mine.

Down
2. Place to bring a suit CABANA
Our word “cabana” comes from the Spanish “cabaña”, the word for a small hut or a cabin. We often use the term to describe a tentlike structure beside a pool.

3. Wading bird AVOCET
The avocet is found in warm climates, usually in saline wetlands where it uses its upcurved bill to sweep from side-to-side in water searching for aquatic insects on which it feeds. Avocets, and other similar species, may go by the common name of "stilts", a moniker applied to them because of their long legs.

5. Beliefs CREDOS
A creed or credo is a confession of faith, or a system of belief or principles. “Credo” is Latin for "I believe".

6. "Bambi" doe ENA
Ena is Bambi's aunt in the 1942 Disney film “Bambi”. The movie is based on the novel "Bambi, A Life in the Woods" written by Austrian author Felix Salten and first published in 1923. There is a documented phenomenon known as the Bambi Effect, whereby people become more interested in animal rights after having watched the scene where Bambi's mother is shot by hunters.

7. Award-winning political cartoonist Ted RALL
Ted Rall is a political cartoonist whose cartoons are syndicated in many newspapers across North America.

9. Munich : Jahr :: Madrid : __ ANO
“Year” is “Jahr” in German, and “año” in Spanish.

Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria, and is the third largest city in the country (after Berlin and Hamburg). The city is called “München” in German, a term that derives from the Old German word for “by the monks’ place”, which is a reference to the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city in 1158.

Madrid is the largest city in Spain and the capital. Madrid is located very close to the geographical center of the country. It is the third-largest city in the European Union (after London and Paris). People from Madrid called themselves Madrileños.

10. "Hawaii Five-O" nickname DANO
Danny Williams is a character on the TV show “Hawaii Five-O”, both in the original version that first aired in 1968 and in the remake that was first broadcast in 2010. The original, “Danno” is played by James McArthur. In the remake, Danno is played by Scott Caan, son of Hollywood actor James Caan. Book him, Danno!

11. Landlocked Asian nation LAOS
The official name for the country of Laos is the Lao People's Democratic Republic. In the Lao language, the country's name is "Meuang Lao". The French ruled Laos as part of French Indochina, having united three separate Lao kingdoms. As there was a plural of "Lao" entities united into one, the French added the "S" and so today we tend to use "Laos" instead of "Lao".

13. Slow movements ADAGIOS
An adagio is a piece of music with a slow tempo. The "adagio" marking on the score is an instruction to play the piece slowly and in a stately manner. The word adagio is Latin for "at ease".

24. 1980 Oscar winner who portrayed Loretta SISSY
The actress Sissy Spacek probably got her big break in movies when she played the title role in the 1976 horror movie “Carrie”, which is based on the Stephen King novel. Her most acclaimed role is the lead in the 1980 biopic about Loretta Lynn called “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, for which she won an Oscar. Spacek’s first cousin is the actor Rip Torn.

The singer Loretta Lynn is sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Country Music. Lynn was born in 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner and his wife, and so famously is also referred to as “the Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Her much younger sister (by 19 years) is the singer Crystal Gayle.

27. Actor McKellen IAN
Sir Ian McKellen is a marvelous English actor, someone who is comfortable playing anything from Macbeth on stage to Magneto in an “X-Men” movie. On the big screen, McKellen is very famous for playing Gandalf in "The Lord of Rings". In the UK Sir Ian is noted for being at the forefront of the campaign for equal rights for gay people, a role he has enthusiastically embraced since the eighties.

28. Mandela's org. ANC
As a young man, Nelson Mandela led the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Mandela was eventually arrested and admitted to charges of sabotage and was sentenced to life in prison in 1964. He remained behind bars for 27 years, mainly in the infamous prison on Robben Island. As the years progressed, Mandela became a symbol of the fight against apartheid. He was released in 1990, and immediately declared his commitment to peace and reconciliation with South Africa’s white minority population. Mandela was elected president of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in 1994, an office that he held until 1999. Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013.

29. Exhibition funding gp. NEA
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an agency funded by the federal government that offers support and financing for artistic projects. The NEA was created by an Act of Congress in 1965. Between 1965 and 2008, the NEA awarded over $4 billion to the arts, with Congress authorizing around $170 million annually through the eighties and much of the nineties. That funding was cut to less than $100 million in the late nineties due to pressure from conservatives concerned about the use of funds, but it is now back over the $150 million mark. I wonder how long that will last though ...

33. Detroit labor org. UAW
The United Auto Workers (UAW) was founded to represent workers in auto plants in the Detroit area in 1935. Nowadays the UAW's membership extends into the aerospace, agriculture and other industries.

34. Letters in personal columns SWM
Single white male (SWM)

36. First poet interred in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner CHAUCER
Geoffrey Chaucer was an English author. He is often referred to as the father of English literature because he established vernacular English as a legitimate language for artistic works, as up to that point authors used French or Latin. Chaucer's most famous work is actually unfinished, a collection of stories called "The Canterbury Tales", all written at the end of the 14th century.

Poets’ Corner is an area in Westminster Abbey in London that earned its name from the high number of poets buried and commemorated there, as well as playwrights and authors. The first poet interred there was Geoffrey Chaucer. Also in Poets’ Corner are the remains of Edmund Spenser, Robert Browning, Charles Dickens, John Dryden, George Frideric Handel, Thomas Hardy, Samuel Johnson, Rudyard Kipling, Laurence Olivier and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Wow!

39. Something to eat in a Western? MY DUST
Eat my dust, you’ll never catch me …

40. Miss America contestants' array SASHES
The Miss America beauty pageant started out as a marketing ploy in the early twenties to attract tourists to the Atlantic City boardwalk after Labor Day. Today, contestants must be between 17 and 24 years of age. Before those limits were introduced, 15-year-old Marian Bergeron won the contest in 1933.

41. Salsa brand ORTEGA
The Ortega food manufacturing company has been around for about 150 years. It was founded by Maria Concepcion Jacinta Dominguez Ortega, known affectionately as Mama Ortega within the company.

42. Room to maneuver LEEWAY
Our word “leeway” meaning “spare margin” is nautical in origin. A vessel’s leeway is the amount of drift motion away from her intended course that is caused by the action of the wind.

43. Where to emulate the natives IN ROME
The proverb “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” probably dates back to the days of St. Augustine. St. Augustine wrote a letter around 390 AD in which he states:

When I go to Rome, I fast on Saturday, but here [Milan] I do not. Do you also follow the custom of whatever church you attend, if you do not want to give or receive scandal?

44. More unpleasantly moist DANKER
"Dank" is such a lovely word, now largely superseded by another nice word "damp". It is thought that "dank" came into English from Scandinavia some time before the 14th century. The modern Swedish word "dank" means "moist place".

50. Some Ivy Leaguers ELIS
Eli is the nickname for a graduate of Yale University, a term used in honor of the Yale benefactor Elihu Yale.

The term “Ivy League” originally defined an athletic conference, but now it is used to describe a group of schools of higher education that are associated with both a long tradition and academic excellence. The eight Ivy League Schools are: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.

55. Agnus __ DEI
"Agnus Dei" is Latin for "Lamb of God", a term used in Christian faiths for Jesus Christ, symbolizing his role as a sacrificial offering to atone for the sins of man.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Not as available SCARCER
8. Red herring, to a cop BAD LEAD
15. Athens eatery TAVERNA
16. Where to view "Duck Dynasty" ON A AND E
17. Oath sworn in a kosher kitchen? ABOVE ALL, DO NO HAM (sounds like “above all, do no harm”)
19. Hightailed it RACED
20. Le Mans law LOI
21. Great Plains tribe OSAGE
22. 9-Down opener ENERO
23. '50s pres. candidate AES
25. Long of "Third Watch" NIA
26. New Year's Eve get-togethers? DATES
27. Double-dealing in Delhi? INDIAN CON (sounds like “Indian corn”)
30. "A symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal": Steinbeck WAR
31. Old knives SNEES
32. Cutthroat entrepreneur? BUSINESS CAD (sounds like “business card”)
36. Pool option CRAWL
37. Six-time '70s Dodger All-Star CEY
38. Demand from a Stooge fan? SHOW ME MOE (sounds like “show me more”)
40. Unyielding SOLID
45. Lobbying gp. PAC
46. Neighbor of Turk. SYR
47. Place to play ARENA
48. Riches LUCRE
51. Deg. for drillers DDS
53. Unyielding STERN
54. "Stir-frying is an option, too"? I COULD USE THE WOK (sounds like “I could use the work”)
57. Nervous __ NELLIES
58. No-win situation TIE GAME
59. Doesn't back away TRIES IT
60. Gold rush figure ASSAYER

Down
1. Was googly-eyed STARED
2. Place to bring a suit CABANA
3. Wading bird AVOCET
4. Put on a pedestal REVERE
5. Beliefs CREDOS
6. "Bambi" doe ENA
7. Award-winning political cartoonist Ted RALL
8. Word with able or full -BODIED
9. Munich : Jahr :: Madrid : __ ANO
10. "Hawaii Five-O" nickname DANO
11. Landlocked Asian nation LAOS
12. Heightened ENHANCED
13. Slow movements ADAGIOS
14. Insult DEMEAN
18. Some bank files LOAN RECORDS
24. 1980 Oscar winner who portrayed Loretta SISSY
27. Actor McKellen IAN
28. Mandela's org. ANC
29. Exhibition funding gp. NEA
30. Trickery WILES
32. Cabbage family member BROCCOLI
33. Detroit labor org. UAW
34. Letters in personal columns SWM
35. Get SEE
36. First poet interred in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner CHAUCER
38. Immobilize, in a way SPLINT
39. Something to eat in a Western? MY DUST
40. Miss America contestants' array SASHES
41. Salsa brand ORTEGA
42. Room to maneuver LEEWAY
43. Where to emulate the natives IN ROME
44. More unpleasantly moist DANKER
49. Dominate RULE
50. Some Ivy Leaguers ELIS
52. Words with limit or trap SET A ...
55. Agnus __ DEI
56. It's in many poems ‘TIS


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
16. Plant from the Greek for "flame"PHLOX
Phlox is a genus of flowering plants found mainly in North America. A common name for the plant is Jacob’s Ladder.

18. Garlicky sauce AIOLI
To the purist, especially in Provence in the South of France, the “home” of aioli, aioli is prepared just by grinding garlic with olive oil. However, other ingredients are often added to the mix, particularly egg yolks.

20. One to keep closer? ENEMY
Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

22. Setting for a Det. Tigers game EDT
Eastern Daylight Time

The origins of the Detroit Tigers baseball team’s name seems a little unclear. One story is that it was taken from the Detroit Light Guard military unit who were known as "The Tigers". The Light Guard fought with distinction during the Civil War and in the Spanish-American War. Sure enough, when the Detroit baseball team went into the Majors they were formally given permission to use "The Tigers" name by the Detroit Light Guard.

23. Designer of many Harper's Bazaar covers ERTE
Erté was the pseudonym of French artist (Russian born) Romain de Tirtoff. Erté is the French pronunciation of his initials "R.T."

“Harper’s Bazaar” was first published in 1867, making it the first women’s fashion magazine to hit the newsstands.

24. Golden Horde members TATARS
Tatars are an ethnic group of people, mainly residing in Russia (a population of about 5 1/2 million). One of the more famous people with a Tatar heritage was Hollywood actor Charles Bronson. Bronson’s real name was Charles Buchinsky.

The Golden Horde was a group of Mongols who ruled over what is now Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova and the Caucasus, from the 1240s until 1502. It has been suggested that the name of the group derives from the yellow tents used by the rulers of the Golden Horde. And, the Golden Horde’s influence and rule led to the term “horde” entering the English language, via many languages spoken in Slavic Eastern Europe.

25. Dancer Chmerkovskiy of "Dancing With the Stars"VAL
Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy are two brothers who are professional dancers on the US version of the show “Dancing with the Stars”. Maks and Val were born in Odessa, Ukraine and emigrated with his family to Brooklyn, New York in 1994.

26. Rutabagas, e.g. TUBERS
The rutabaga is a root vegetable that we call a “swede” over in Ireland. It is actually a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. The name “rutabaga” comes from an old Swedish word “rotabagge” meaning “ram root”. Very tasty …

27. Chicago Cubs' spring training city MESA
The city of Mesa, Arizona is in effect a suburb of Phoenix. The original settlement of non-Native Americans was founded by Daniel Webster Jones who led a Mormon group from St. George, Utah. The settlement was first called Jonesville, then Fort Utah and eventually Lehi. A second group of Mormons arrived and formed a settlement on top of a nearby mesa. It was this use of a mesa that eventually gave the city its current name.

The Chicago Cubs is one of only two charter members of the baseball’s National League who are still playing, the other being the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908, which is a long time ago. In fact, the Cubs have the longest championship drought of any professional sports team in North America.

28. Squired ESCORTED
A squire can be an escort, say one attending to a woman. A squire is also a young nobleman who attended a knight in days of yore. A fun example would be Sancho Panza who accompanied the deluded Don Quixote.

32. Lethal phosphorus compound SARIN
Sarin is used as a chemical weapon. It was first discovered in Germany by scientists looking for stronger pesticides. The name Sarin was derived from the names of the discovering scientists: Schrader, Ambros, Rudiger and Van der Linde.

34. Grind RAT RACE
We use “rat race” figuratively to describe an endless, pointless pursuit. The term comes from the laboratory, where one might imagine rats racing around a maze in search of some cheese.

37. Epitome of slowness MOLASSES
When sugarcane is processed to extract sugar, it is crushed and mashed to produce a juice. The juice is boiled to make a sugary concentrate called cane syrup, from which sugar crystals are extracted. A second boiling of the leftover syrup produces second molasses, from which more sugar crystals can be extracted. A third boiling results in what is called blackstrap molasses.

The more common meaning of "epitome" is a perfect example of a group, quality, type etc. An "epitome" is also an abstract or summary of a book or article.

38. Parted sea ARAL
The Aral Sea is a great example of how man can have a devastating effect on his environment. In the early sixties the Aral Sea covered 68,000 square miles of Central Asia. Soviet Union irrigation projects drained the lake to such an extent that today the total area is less than 7,000 square miles, with 90% of the lake now completely dry. Sad ...

39. "Rent" Pulitzer-winning dramatist LARSON
The musical “Rent” by Jonathan Larson is based on the Puccini opera “La bohème”. "Rent" tells the story of struggling artists and musicians living in the Lower East Side of New York, and is set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic. We saw “Rent” on Broadway quite a few years ago and we were very disappointed …

41. __ se PER
"Per se" is a Latin phrase that translates as "by itself". We use "per se" pretty literally, meaning "in itself, intrinsically".

42. Fortune KISMET
“Kismet” is a Turkish word, meaning fate or fortune, one's lot.

43. Private dining room? MESS
"Mess" first came into English about 1300 and described the list of food needed for a meal, from the Old French word "mes" meaning a portion of food or a course at a meal. This usage in English evolved into "mess" meaning a jumbled mass of anything from the concept of "mixed food". At the same time, the original usage in the sense of a food for a meal surfaced again in the military in the 1500s when a "mess" was a communal eating place.

49. "Affliction" Oscar nominee NOLTE
The actor Nick Nolte got his big break playing opposite Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Shaw in “The Deep”, released in 1976. Prior to that he had worked as a model, and in fact appeared in a magazine advertisement for Clairol in 1972 alongside fellow model Sigourney Weaver.

“Affliction” is a 1997 film starring Nick Nolte as a small-town policeman investigating a fatal hunting accident and its aftermath. The movie is based on a novel by Russell Banks.

54. Bean seen on-screen ORSON
Orson Bean is an actor, perhaps best known for his appearances on television game shows in the sixties, seventies and eighties. His most famous game show role was that of a panelist on "To Tell the Truth". Interestingly, Bean (real name Dallas Burrows) is a first cousin, twice removed, of President Calvin Coolidge.

56. Many a combine model DEERE
John Deere invented the first commercially successful steel plow in 1837. Prior to Deere's invention, farmers used an iron or wooden plow that constantly had to be cleaned as rich soil stuck to its surfaces. The cast-steel plow was revolutionary as its smooth sides solved the problem of "stickiness".

Down
1. Kind of buds? TASTE
There are 2,000 to 8,000 taste buds on the human tongue, and together they detect five different tastes: salty, sour, bitter, sweet and umami. Taste buds have a short lifetime, and are replaced about every ten days.

5. Title narrator in an 1847 novel EYRE
"Jane Eyre" is a celebrated novel written by Charlotte Brontë, under the pen name Currer Bell. Over the years, I've shared here on my blogs that the "Jane Eyre" story line is a little too dark and Gothic for my taste, but a very persuasive blog reader convinced me to look more at the romantic side of the story and give it a second chance. I watched a wonderful 4-hour television adaptation of the novel made by the BBC a while back and I have to say that because I was focused on the relationship between Jane and Rochester, I was able to push past the Gothic influences (that depress me) so I really enjoyed the story. I thoroughly recommend the 2006 BBC adaptation to fans of the novel.

9. Fixes SPAYS
Our verb “to spay”, meaning “to surgically remove the ovaries of” (an animal) comes from an old Anglo-French word “espeier” meaning “to cut with a sword”.

10. Golden ratio symbol PHI
The golden ratio, sometimes called the “golden mean” and denoted by the Greek letter phi, is a mathematical constant that often turns up in the world of art. Phi is approximately equal to 1.61, and is represented by the two distances, a and b, where (a+b)/a = a/b. Somehow we perceive the ratio of 1.61 as "pleasing" so it appears in many works of art and in building design. For example, many aspects of the Parthenon in Athens have the ratio of 1.61 (width compared to height). Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing of the Vitruvian Man also illustrates the golden ratio in the proportions of the human body, where he shows that the distance from the foot to the navel, compared to the distance from the navel to the head, is 1.61.

11. Some succulents ALOE VERAS
Aloe vera has a number of alternate names that are descriptive of its efficacy as a medicine. These include the First Aid plant, Wand of Heaven, Silent Healer and Miracle Plant.

21. "__ Robinson"MRS
When Mike Nichols was making the 1967 film "The Graduate" he apparently became obsessed with the music of Simon and Garfunkel, who were just coming into the limelight. Nichols made a deal with Paul Simon to write three songs that he could use on the soundtrack of his new movie. Simon and Garfunkel were touring constantly around that time, so Nichols had to badger Simon to hold up his end of the bargain. When Nichols was ready to lay down the film's soundtrack there was only one commissioned song available, so Nichols had to basically beg Paul Simon for anything. Simon mentioned that he was finishing up one new song, but it wasn't written for the film. It was more a celebration of former times, with lyrics about baseball great Joe DiMaggio and former First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt. Nichols informed Simon that the song was no longer about Mrs. Roosevelt, and instead it was about Mrs. Robinson ...

24. Peace Nobelist of 1984 TUTU
Desmond Tutu is a South African, a former Anglican bishop who is an outspoken opponent of apartheid. Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, among other distinguished awards.

26. Metal-measure word TROY
The system of troy weights is now only used to measure the mass of precious metals and gemstones. The name “troy” like came from the French town of Troyes, which was famous for trading with the English as far back as the 9th century.

27. Men's home? MARS
“Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” is a very popular 1993 book about male-female relationships by John Gray. Gray’s thesis is that relationships benefit from understanding that men and women are different, have different needs, communicate differently, are metaphorically from two different planets.

31. Law school newbie ONE L
"One L" is a name used in general for first year law students.

32. Kenton of jazz STAN
Stan Kenton was a pianist, composer and jazz orchestra leader from Wichita, Kansas. Kenton’s style of music was called “the Wall of Sound”, and that was back in the 1940s. Phil Spector used the same phrase decades later, in the early sixties.

34. Bruins' home ROSE BOWL
The Rose Bowl is the stadium in Pasadena, California that is home to the UCLA football team and host to Rose Bowl football game held annually on New Year’s Day.

The UCLA Bruins mascots are Joe and Josephine Bruin, characters that have evolved over the years. There used to be "mean" Bruin mascots but they weren't very popular with the fans, so now there are only "happy" Bruin mascots at the games.

35. Beaucoup, with "of"A LOT
“Beaucoup” is a French word that we’ve imported into English, meaning “a lot”. In French, “beaucoup” can be parsed into “beau coup” meaning “handsome stroke”.

37. Onetime Sterling Optical spokesman MR MAGOO
Sterling Optical is a chain of retail optical stores that opened its first store in New York City in 1914. Sterling started using the cartoon character Mr. Magoo in its advertising in 2005.

Mr. Quincy Magoo is a wonderful cartoon character voiced by Jim Backus. Backus is probably equally well-known for playing Mr. Magoo as well as Thurston Howell, III on "Gilligan's Island". Mr. Magoo first appeared on the screen in a short called "The Ragtime Bear" in 1949. His persona was at least in part based on the antics of W. C. Fields. Backus originally used a fake rubber nose that pinched his nostrils in order to create the distinctive voice, although in time he learned to do the voice without the prop. My absolute favorite appearance by Mr. Magoo is in "Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol", a true classic from the sixties. There was a movie adaptation of "Mr Magoo" released in 1997, with Leslie Nielsen playing the title role.

42. Scandinavian capital KRONE
"Krone" translates into English as "crown", and was the name given to coins that bore the image of the monarch in several countries. Today, the krone is the name given to the currency of Norway and of Denmark. Some of the Norwegian and Danish kroner have holes in the middle, giving them a "doughnut" or "torus" shape.

43. "Bouquet of Sunflowers" painter MONET
Claude Monet painted the harbor of Le Havre in the north of France in 1872, giving it the title "Impression, Sunrise". The painting is not a "realistic" representation of the scene in front of him, hence the name "impression". It was this very painting that gave rise to the name of the Impressionist movement.

53. Prefix with life or wife MID-
A midwife is someone trained to assist women in childbirth. The term comes from Middle English “mid wif” meaning “with woman”.

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Ring pairs TAG TEAMS
9. Result of hitting the bar? SPACE
14. Some strays ALLEY CATS
16. Plant from the Greek for "flame" PHLOX
17. Agitated STIRRED UP
18. Garlicky sauce AIOLI
19. Present, say TENSE
20. One to keep closer? ENEMY
22. Setting for a Det. Tigers game EDT
23. Designer of many Harper's Bazaar covers ERTE
24. Golden Horde members TATARS
25. Dancer Chmerkovskiy of "Dancing With the Stars" VAL
26. Rutabagas, e.g. TUBERS
27. Chicago Cubs' spring training city MESA
28. Squired ESCORTED
32. Lethal phosphorus compound SARIN
33. Lose control, in a way SPIN OUT
34. Grind RAT RACE
36. Evasive CAGEY
37. Epitome of slowness MOLASSES
38. Parted sea ARAL
39. "Rent" Pulitzer-winning dramatist LARSON
41. __ se PER
42. Fortune KISMET
43. Private dining room? MESS
47. "Yada yada yada" letters ETC
48. Place to get clean REHAB
49. "Affliction" Oscar nominee NOLTE
50. Key location PIANO
52. Vanity case? EGOMANIAC
54. Bean seen on-screen ORSON
55. "Aha!" NOW I GET IT!
56. Many a combine model DEERE
57. Some seniors OLDSTERS

Down
1. Kind of buds? TASTE
2. Size up, maybe? ALTER
3. Sparkle GLINT
4. Far from flowery TERSE
5. Title narrator in an 1847 novel EYRE
6. Deck top ACE
7. Entered the pool? MADE A BET
8. Hindered the development of STUNTED
9. Fixes SPAYS
10. Golden ratio symbol PHI
11. Some succulents ALOE VERAS
12. Frigid COLD AS ICE
13. They're turnoffs EXIT LANES
15. Stick a fork in SPEAR
21. "__ Robinson" MRS
24. Peace Nobelist of 1984 TUTU
26. Metal-measure word TROY
27. Men's home? MARS
28. Sci-fi emergency vehicle ESCAPE POD
29. Fifth wheel SPARE TIRE
30. Cuban home? CIGAR CASE
31. Law school newbie ONE L
32. Kenton of jazz STAN
34. Bruins' home ROSE BOWL
35. Beaucoup, with "of" A LOT
37. Onetime Sterling Optical spokesman MR MAGOO
39. Piece of fiction LIE
40. Beyond the pale? ASHEN
42. Scandinavian capital KRONE
43. "Bouquet of Sunflowers" painter MONET
44. Choice ELITE
45. Flight segment STAIR
46. Splinter groups SECTS
49. Badgers or hounds NAGS
51. Negative link NOR
53. Prefix with life or wife MID-


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Today's Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
12. Golfer for whom the original web.com Tour was named BEN HOGAN
Ben Hogan was one of only five golfers to win all four majors (alongside Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen). Hogan’s record is particularly remarkable as he survived a near-fatal car accident when he was 36, after which doctors suggested he might never walk again. Hogan and his wife had been in a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus.

20. Vols' school UTENN
The Tennessee Volunteers (the Vols) is the name given to the men's sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The women's teams are called the Lady Volunteers.

22. Baja tourist city ENSENADA
Ensenada is a city in Baja California, Mexico which sits on the coast about 80 miles south of San Diego. Ensenada is noted as a cruise ship destination, and is also a producer of outstanding wine.

25. *Seemingly impromptu public performance FLASH MOB
A flash mob is a group of people who gather to perform a sudden, brief act in a public location and then quickly disperse. Flash mobs originated in Manhattan in 2003, as a social experiment by an editor of “Harper’s Magazine” called Bill Wasik. Wasik’s first attempt to form a flash mob was unsuccessful, but the second attempt worked. The first successful flash mob was relatively tame by today’s elaborate standards, and consisted of about 130 people gathered on the 9th floor of Macy’s department store pretending to be shopping en masse for a “love rug”.

29. Buffalo NHLer SABRE
The Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League in the 1970-71 season. The team took the name "Sabres" following a fan contest.

30. Director Jean-__ Godard LUC
Jean-Luc Godard is a so-called "Nouvelle Vague" (New Wave) cinematographer, making movies that challenge the conventions of both traditional Hollywood and French cinema.

36. Troon turndowns NAES
“Nae” is the Scottish vernacular for "no".

Troon is a town on the west coast of Scotland just north of Glasgow. One of Troon’s claims to fame is the Royal Troon golf course which regularly hosts the British Open Golf Championship.

37. Greek earth goddess GAIA
In ancient Greek religion, Gaia was the Earth goddess, the mother of everything. The Roman equivalent was the goddess Terra.

43. Frisbee golf starting point TEE PAD
The Frisbee concept started back in 1938 with a couple who had an upturned cake pan that they were tossing between each other on Santa Monica Beach in California. They were offered 25 cents for the pan on the spot, and as pans could be bought for 5 cents, the pair figured there was a living to be earned.

45. *Classic 1974 sports contest RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
The Rumble in the Jungle was the celebrated 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman that took place in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The fight was set in Zaire because of financial arrangements between promoter Don King and Zaire's President Mobutu Seko. Ali coined the term "Rope-a-dope" to describe his incredibly successful strategy in the contest. From the second round onwards, Ali adopted a protected stance on the ropes letting Foreman pound him with blows to the body and head, with Ali using his arms to dissipate the power of the punches. He kept this up until the eighth round and then opened up and downed the exhausted Foreman with a left-right combination. I hate boxing but I have to say, that was an fascinating fight.

51. Barcelona bye ADIOS
The term “adios” is Spanish for “goodbye”. In the Spanish language, “adios” comes from the phrase “a dios vos acomiendo” meaning “I commend you to God”.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, after the capital Madrid. Barcelona is the largest European city that sits on the Mediterranean coast. It is also the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

52. Chargers linebacker Manti __ TE’O
Manti Te'o is college football player who was in the news not too long ago. Te’o was noted for playing particularly well after the death of his grandmother and girlfriend. It turned out that his relationship with the “girlfriend” was an online affair and a hoax. A male acquaintance of Te’o had posed as a girl and lured him into a relationship. Wanting to put an end to the deception, the hoaxer “killed off” the girlfriend by “giving” her leukemia.

59. Sales chart metaphor PIE
A “pie chart” can also be referred to as a “circle graph”.

61. Reputed UFO fliers ETS
One might speculate that an unidentified flying object (UFO) is flown by an extraterrestrial (ET).

62. Arcade no-no TILT
In a game of pinball, some players get an irresistible urge to "nudge" the machine . Such a nudge, a movement of the machine designed to influence the path taken by the ball, is called a "tilt". Most pinball machines have sensors designed to detect a tilt, and when activated a "tilt" warning light comes on and the player's controls are temporarily disabled.

Our word “arcade” comes from the Latin “arcus” meaning “arc”. The first arcades were passages made from a series of arches. This could be an avenue of trees, and eventually any covered avenue. I remember arcades lined with shops and stores when I was growing up on the other side of the Atlantic. Arcades came to be lined with lots of amusements, resulting in amusement arcades and video game arcades.

63. Where to find "The Blacklist" ON NBC
“The Blacklist” is an entertaining, albeit a little formulaic, crime drama TV show starring James Spader and Megan Boone. Spader plays a successful criminal who surrenders to the FBI in order to help catch a “blacklist” of high-profile criminals.

65. "Mr. __ Passes By": Milne play PIM
A. A. Milne (of "Winnie-the-Pooh" fame) wrote a play called "Mr. Pim Passes By" in 1919. The play was a big hit and starred Leslie Howard in the original London production.

66. Time fraction: Abbr. NSEC
“Nanosecond” is more correctly abbreviated to "ns", and really is a tiny amount of time: one billionth of a second.

72. USAF noncom TSGT
Technical Sergeant (TSgt)

75. Driver's lic. info DOB
Date of Birth (DOB)

77. Aired for binge-watching, say RERAN
I’m a big fan of binge-watching, the practice of watching perhaps two or three (even four!) episodes of a show in a row. My wife and I will often deliberately avoid watching a recommended show “live” and wait until whole series have been released on DVD or online. I’m not a big fan of “tune in next week …”

78. Film princess LEIA
Princess Leia is Luke Skywalker’s sister in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and was played by Carrie Fisher. Carrie Fisher has stated that she hated the famous "cinnamon bun hairstyle" that she had to wear in the films, as she felt it made her face look too round. She also had to to sit for two hours every day just to get her hair styled. Two hours to get your hair done? It takes me just two seconds ...

81. Nestlé candy with a white covering SNO-CAPS
Sno-Caps are a brand of candy usually only available in movie theaters. Sno-caps have been around since the 1920s, would you believe?

85. Old-style delivery man TOWN CRIER
Town criers make public announcements on the streets, usually shouting “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!” to attract attention. The term “oyez” derives from the Anglo-Norman word for “listen” and is used in this instance to me “Hear ye!”

87. Exotic pet IGUANA
An iguana is a lizard, and as such is cold-blooded. There are times when pet iguanas need heat from an IR lamp to maintain body temperature.

88. Bermuda hrs. AST
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The list of locations that use AST includes Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory that is located off the east coast of the US. It is named for the Spaniard Juan de Bermúdez who in 1503 become the first European to discover the archipelago. Bermuda is the oldest remaining British Overseas Territory (since Newfoundland became part of Canada in 1949). It is also the most populous British Overseas Territory (since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997).

90. Long-eared critters HARES
Hares belong to the genus Lepus, and young hares, that are under one-year-old, are called leverets.

92. *Historic 20th-century disaster CRASH OF TWENTY-NINE
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 that signalled the start of the Great Depression did not happen on just one day. The first big drop in the market took place on October 24 (Black Thursday). Things stabilized on Friday, and then the slide continued on the 28th (Black Monday) and the 29th (Black Tuesday).

97. "Frankenstein" genre GOTHIC
Mary Shelley's Gothic novel has the full title of "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus". The subtitle underscores one of the themes of the book, a warning about man's expansion into the Industrial Revolution.

99. Old Roman road ITER
“Iter” is the Latin for “road”.

107. 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year Stoudemire AMAR’E
Amar’e Stoudemire is a professional basketball player who has played with the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks. Stoudemire is very active off the court, and has his own clothing line, his own record label and has even written a book for children.

109. Brian of ambient music ENO
Brian Eno was one of the pioneers of the “ambient” genre of music. Eno composed an album in 1978 called “Ambient 1: Music for Airports”, the first in a series of four albums with an ambient theme. Eno named the tracks somewhat inventively: 1/1, 2/1, 2/1 and 2/2.

115. *Bama rallying cry ROLL TIDE!
The athletic teams of the University of Alabama (“Bama”) are nicknamed the Crimson Tide, a reference to the team colors of crimson and white.

122. It established Congress ARTICLE I
Article One of the US Constitution establishes the US Congress. The second section of Article One establishes the House of Representatives, and the third section establishes the US Senate. Section 8 of Article One lists the powers delegated to the legislature.

123. Ancient serfs HELOTS
The helots were a population of poorly-treated slaves who served the citizens of Sparta.

Sparta was a city-state in ancient Greece, famous for her military might. Spartan children had a tough upbringing, and newborn babies were bathed in wine to see if the child was strong enough to survive. Every child was presented to a council of elders that decided if the baby was suitable for rearing. Those children deemed too puny were executed by tossing them into a chasm. We’ve been using the term “spartan” to describe something self-disciplined or austere since the 1600s.

A serf was a member of the lowest feudal class, someone attached to land owned by a lord. "Serf" comes from the Latin "servus", meaning "slave".

125. Box for bags TEA CHEST
When I was growing up across the pond, a “tea chest” was an extremely large wooden box used to ship loose tea. We used to purchased used empty tea chest to store things in our attic. But I have learned that a North American tea chest is a wooden box with compartments for varieties of bagged teas.

126. Plant swellings EDEMAS
Both animals and plants can suffer from edema, a swelling cause by excessive accumulation of fluid.

127. Best Game and Best Upset ESPYS
The ESPY Awards are a creation of the ESPN sports television network. One difference with similarly named awards in the entertainment industry is that ESPY winners are chosen solely based on viewer votes.

Down
1. Disarray MUSS
A “muss” is state of disorder, and a term that probably evolved from “mess”. The phrase “no muss, no fuss” means “no bother, no mess made, no excessive hustle and bustle”.

2. Words to a traitor ET TU
It was Shakespeare who popularized the words "Et tu, Brute?" (And you, Brutus?), in his play "Julius Caesar", although the phrase had been around long before he penned his drama. It's not known what Julius Caesar actually said in real life just before he was assassinated on the steps of the Senate in Rome.

3. Grand Marquis, for short MERC
The Mercury Grand Marquis was the premium model produced by Ford using the Mercury label. The first Grand Marquis rolled off the production line in 1983, and the last in January 2011, when the Mercury brand was retired.

4. 100 smackers ONE C
“Smacker” is American slang for “money”, with “smackers” often being used to mean ”dollars”. It is suggested that the term might come from “smacking” a banknote into one’s hand.

5. Mail modifier SNAIL
“Snail mail” is regular mail delivered by the postal service. The term “snail mail” arose as email gained in popularity, and is a reference to the difference in speed between email and paper mail.

6. Ristorante dumplings GNOCCHI
Gnocchi are small dumplings in Italian cuisine that can be made from various ingredients including potato, my personal favorite. The name “gnocchi” might be derived from the Italian “nocchio” meaning “knot in wood”.

8. Anago or unagi EEL
“Unagi” is the Japanese word for freshwater eel, and “anago” is the word for salt-water eel.

9. Start to pressure? ACU-
Acupressure and acupuncture are related alternative medical techniques. Both aim to clear blockages in the flow of life energy through the body's meridians. The treatment is given by stimulating “acupoints' in the body, by applying pressure in the case of acupressure, and by applying needles in the case of acupuncture.

10. Champagne label word SEC
“Sec” is a term used in France for “dry”.

11. Glacial ridge ESKER
An esker is a long and winding ridge formed by glaciation, made of sand and gravel. The term “esker” comes from the Irish word “eiscir” that describes the same feature.

13. Photo lab svc. ENL
Enlargement (enl.)

14. DOD intel arm NSA
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Department of Defense (DOD).

15. Company with toy trucks HESS
The Hess Corporation is an oil company based in New York City. In 1964, the company started selling toy trucks with the Hess logo on them, in Hess gas stations. The company has been selling them every since, bringing out new models just before Christmas. Hess toy trucks have become quite collectible and the old ones can fetch a pretty penny.

17. Viola da __ GAMBA
The viola da gamba (also called simply the viol) is a bass instrument in what is known as the viol family, with a tonal range that about matches that of the modern-day cello. It is the second largest of all the viols, so is played resting on the floor between the legs. In fact, "viola da gamba" is Italian translating into "viol for the leg".

19. Theaters in the area, briefly NABES
A “nabe” is a neighborhood, or a familiar term for a local movie theater. Although I've never heard "nabe" used in this neighborhood ...

24. Immortal coaching name KNUTE
Knute Rockne, America's most famous football coach many say, was born in the city of Voss in Norway. He came to the United States with his family when he was 5-years-old. Years later he graduated Notre Dame with a degree in Chemistry, but abandoned that career path when he was offered his first real coaching job.

34. Coffee order: Abbr. REG
Regular (reg.)

37. Second Commandment word GRAVEN
In the Christian tradition, the second commandment prohibits the worship of “any graven image”. Usually this means that graven images can be created, but not worshipped.

40. "__ Ben Adhem" ABOU
Abou Ben Adhem, also known as Ibrahim Bin Adham, was an Arab Muslim saint. He was made famous in the western world with the publication in 1838 of the poem "Abou Ben Adhem" that was composed by the English poet James Henry Leigh Hunt.

44. Legendary storyteller AESOP
Aesop is remembered today for his famous fables. Aesop lived in Ancient Greece, probably around the sixth century BC. Supposedly he was born a slave, somehow became a free man, but then met with a sorry end. Aesop was sent to the city of Delphi on a diplomatic mission but instead insulted the Delphians. He was tried on a trumped-up charge of stealing from a temple, sentenced to death and was thrown off a cliff.

46. Future D.A.'s hurdle LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) has been around since 1948.

50. Salem home: Abbr. ORE
Salem is the state capital of Oregon. It is thought that the city takes its name from the older city of Salem, Massachusetts.

55. Lawyer's petition WRIT
A writ is an order issued by some formal body (these days, usually a court) with the order being in written form. Warrants and subpoenas are examples of writs.

58. Then, in Toulouse ALORS
The French “alors” translates as “so, then, yet”.

Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France, and is located in the southwest of the country. These days, Toulouse is noted as home to the Airbus headquarters and is known as the center of the European aerospace industry.

59. Egyptian currency POUND
The main currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound, divided into 100 piastres (also piasters). The piastre used to the Egyptian currency until is was replaced by Royal Decree with the Egyptian pound in 1834. The piaster continued in circulation and was pegged at 1/100 of a pound.

70. Spanish song CANTO
“El canto” is Spanish for “the song”.

73. "The Quiet American" author GREENE
Graham Greene was a writer and playwright from England. Greene wrote some of my favorite novels, including “Brighton Rock”, “The End of the Affair”, “The Confidential Agent”, “The Third Man”, “The Quiet American” and “Our Man in Havana”. Greene’s books often feature espionage in exotic locales. Greene himself worked for MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence agency. In fact, Greene’s MI6 supervisor was Kim Philby, the famed Soviet spy who penetrated high into British intelligence.

“The Quiet American” is a 1955 Graham Greene novel depicting the transition of French and British colonialism with American influence in Southeast Asia. The book was adapted for the big screen twice, once in 1958 with Audie Murphy leading the cast, and again in 2002 with Michael Caine taking top billing.

76. Baccarat call BANCO
Baccarat, in all of its three variants, is a relatively simple casino card game. Baccarat is the favored game of chance for James Bond 007, and it looks so cool when he plays it! Banco!

81. [Originally shown this way] SIC
"Sic" indicates that a quotation is written as originally found, perhaps including a typo. "Sic" is Latin for "thus, like this". The term is more completely written as “sic erat scriptum”, which translates as “thus was it written”.

82. Park __: airport facility N GO
“Park N Go” (park and go)

85. Like a lion's coat TAWNY
Something described as “tawny” is yellow-brown or tan in color. The term comes from the Anglo-French “tauné” meaning “the color of tanned leather”.

86. Hindu 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.

89. Editor's mark STET
"Stet" is a Latin word meaning "let it stand". In editorial work, the typesetter is instructed to disregard any change previously marked by writing the word "stet" and then underscoring that change with a line of dots or dashes.

93. Master Kan portrayer on "Kung Fu" AHN
The actor Philip Ahn is perhaps best known for playing Master Kahn, one of Caine’s teachers on the television show “Kung Fu”. Ahn was the first Asian-American actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

94. Part of TGIF: Abbr. FRI
"Thank God It's Friday" (TGIF) is a relatively new expression that apparently originated in Akron, Ohio. It was a catchphrase used first by disk jockey Jerry Healy of WAKR in the early seventies. That said, one blog reader wrote me to say that he had been using the phrase in the fifties.

96. "Perry Mason" lieutenant TRAGG
In the “Perry Mason” stories, the title character constantly goes up against L.A. district attorney Hamilton Burger and LAPD homicide detective Lt. Arthur Tragg.

I must have read all of the Perry Mason books when I was in college. I think they kept me sane when I was facing the pressure of exams. Author Erle Stanley Gardner was himself a lawyer, although he didn't get into the profession the easy way. Gardner went to law school, but got himself suspended after a month. So, he became a self-taught attorney and opened his own law office in Merced, California. Understandably, he gave up the law once his novels became successful.

100. Corday victim MARAT
Jean-Paul Marat was a prominent figure in the French Revolution. Marat was famously murdered in his bath by a young woman named Charlotte Corday who was a Royalist. The gruesome event was immortalized in a celebrated painting by Jacques-Louis David called “The Death of Marat”.

102. European island nation MALTA
The island state of Malta is relatively small, but its large number of inhabitants makes it one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Malta's strategic location has made it a prized possession for the conquering empires of the world. Most recently it was part of the British Empire and was an important fleet headquarters. Malta played a crucial role for the Allies during WWII as it was located very close to the Axis shipping lanes in the Mediterranean. The Siege of Malta lasted from 1940 to 1942, a prolonged attack by the Italians and Germans on the RAF and Royal Navy, and the people of Malta. When the siege was lifted, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the people of Malta collectively in recognition of their heroism and devotion to the Allied cause. The George Cross can still be seen on the Maltese flag, even though Britain granted Malta independence in 1964.

104. Night in Nogales NOCHE
Nogales (properly called “Heroica Nogales”) is a city in the Mexican State of Sonora. Nogales lies right on the Mexico-US border, opposite the city of Nogales, Arizona.

111. Part of CDC: Abbr. CTRS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC started out life during WWII as the Office of National Defense Malaria Control Activities. The CDC worries about much more than malaria these days ...

112. Rooty Jr. server IHOP
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) was founded back in 1958. IHOP was originally intended to be called IHOE, the International House of Eggs, but that name didn't do too well in marketing tests ...

114. Sea eagles ERNS
The ern (also erne) is sometimes called the white-tailed eagle, or the sea-eagle.

116. Key for Ravel? ILE
In French, one might go to an “île” (island) in the middle of “l'océan” (the ocean).

A "key" (also "cay") is a low island offshore, as in the Florida Keys. Our term in English comes from the Spanish "cayo" meaning "shoal, reef".

Maurice Ravel was a great French composer of the Romantic Era. His most famous piece of music by far is his “Bolero”, the success of which he found somewhat irksome as he thought it to be a trivial work. Personally though, I love the minimalism and simplicity …

117. __ Moines DES
The city of Des Moines is the capital of Iowa, and takes its name from the Des Moines River. The river in turn takes its name from the French "Riviere des Moines" meaning "River of the Monks". It looks like there isn't any "monkish" connection to the city's name per se. "Des Moines" was just the name given by French traders who corrupted "Moingona", the name of a group of Illinois Native Americans who lived by the river. However, others do contend that French Trappist monks, who lived a full 200 miles from the river, somehow influenced the name.

121. Fluffy toy, briefly POM
The Pomeranian is a breed of small dog, named for the Pomerania region of Europe (part of eastern Germany and northern Poland). The breed was much loved by the royalty of Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria owned a particularly small Pomeranian. Due to the notoriety of the monarch's pet, the Pomeranian was bred for small size, so that during the Queen's admittedly long reign, the size of the average "pom" was reduced by 50% ...

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Office alerts MEMOS
6. Lubricate GREASE
12. Golfer for whom the original web.com Tour was named BEN HOGAN
20. Vols' school UTENN
21. Family reunion attendees NIECES
22. Baja tourist city ENSENADA
23. *Vegas visitor's hope STREAK OF LUCK
25. *Seemingly impromptu public performance FLASH MOB
26. Brief and on point SUCCINCT
27. Corn serving EAR
29. Buffalo NHLer SABRE
30. Director Jean-__ Godard LUC
31. Formal opening DEAR SIRS
36. Troon turndowns NAES
37. Greek earth goddess GAIA
41. Caught in __ THE ACT
43. Frisbee golf starting point TEE PAD
45. *Classic 1974 sports contest RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
48. Word to a restaurant host TWO
51. Barcelona bye ADIOS
52. Chargers linebacker Manti __ TE’O
53. Unusual ODD
54. "Honest!" I SWEAR!
56. Sales chart, e.g. VISUAL AID
59. Sales chart metaphor PIE
60. Attic function STORAGE
61. Reputed UFO fliers ETS
62. Arcade no-no TILT
63. Where to find "The Blacklist" ON NBC
65. "Mr. __ Passes By": Milne play PIM
66. Time fraction: Abbr. NSEC
68. *Solution for a forgotten combination BOLT CUTTERS
72. USAF noncom TSGT
75. Driver's lic. info DOB
77. Aired for binge-watching, say RERAN
78. Film princess LEIA
80. Screened leader? PRE-
81. Nestlé candy with a white covering SNO-CAPS
84. "Another thing ... " AND ...
85. Old-style delivery man TOWN CRIER
87. Exotic pet IGUANA
88. Bermuda hrs. AST
89. Word in discount store names SAV
90. Long-eared critters HARES
91. Base bed COT
92. *Historic 20th-century disaster CRASH OF TWENTY-NINE
97. "Frankenstein" genre GOTHIC
98. Cause to be RENDER
99. Old Roman road ITER
100. Word from a doll MAMA
103. Extreme folly INSANITY
105. 120-Down source TAP
107. 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year Stoudemire AMAR’E
109. Brian of ambient music ENO
110. Fish pond treatment ALGICIDE
115. *Bama rallying cry ROLL TIDE!
118. *Arrange hastily CLAP TOGETHER
122. It established Congress ARTICLE I
123. Ancient serfs HELOTS
124. Dental treatment CROWN
125. Box for bags TEA CHEST
126. Plant swellings EDEMAS
127. Best Game and Best Upset ESPYS

Down
1. Disarray MUSS
2. Words to a traitor ET TU
3. Grand Marquis, for short MERC
4. 100 smackers ONE C
5. Mail modifier SNAIL
6. Ristorante dumplings GNOCCHI
7. Break RIFT
8. Anago or unagi EEL
9. Start to pressure? ACU-
10. Champagne label word SEC
11. Glacial ridge ESKER
12. Get close to BEFRIEND
13. Photo lab svc. ENL
14. DOD intel arm NSA
15. Company with toy trucks HESS
16. Available ON HAND
17. Viola da __ GAMBA
18. Cherish ADORE
19. Theaters in the area, briefly NABES
24. Immortal coaching name KNUTE
28. Dean's list topper A-STUDENT
31. Not exactly new DATED
32. Repeat ECHO
33. Picked at, say ATE
34. Coffee order: Abbr. REG
35. Breakup SPLIT
37. Second Commandment word GRAVEN
38. Annual reviews AUDITS
39. Rueful words about an opportunity I MISSED OUT
40. "__ Ben Adhem" ABOU
42. Give the right ENTITLE
44. Legendary storyteller AESOP
46. Future D.A.'s hurdle LSAT
47. Like some custody JOINT
48. It may be affected by a tough loss TEAM SPIRIT
49. Tail movement WAG
50. Salem home: Abbr. ORE
55. Lawyer's petition WRIT
57. Women's __ LIB
58. Then, in Toulouse ALORS
59. Egyptian currency POUND
60. Hardware fastener SCREW
64. Cherished BELOVED
67. Half a soft drink COCA-
69. Place for deleted files? TRASH CAN
70. Spanish song CANTO
71. Offense SIN
73. "The Quiet American" author GREENE
74. Not so wordy TERSER
76. Baccarat call BANCO
79. Sore ACHY
81. [Originally shown this way] SIC
82. Park __: airport facility N GO
83. Saga opening PART I
85. Like a lion's coat TAWNY
86. Hindu royal RANI
88. "In my opinion ... " AS I SEE IT ....
89. Editor's mark STET
93. Master Kan portrayer on "Kung Fu" AHN
94. Part of TGIF: Abbr. FRI
95. Disappointing result NET LOSS
96. "Perry Mason" lieutenant TRAGG
97. Spaghetti sauce staple GARLIC
100. Corday victim MARAT
101. Luigi's love AMORE
102. European island nation MALTA
104. Night in Nogales NOCHE
106. Composition PIECE
108. Engrave ETCH
110. "__ boy!" ATTA
111. Part of CDC: Abbr. CTRS
112. Rooty Jr. server IHOP
113. __-eyed DEWY
114. Sea eagles ERNS
116. Key for Ravel? ILE
117. __ Moines DES
119. Played the first card LED
120. Scottish __ ALE
121. Fluffy toy, briefly POM


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