0329-23 NY Times Crossword 29 Mar 23, Wednesday

Constructed by: Ben Zoon
Edited by: Will Shortz

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Today’s Theme (according to Bill): Sugar for a Man

The four themed answers are anagrams of each other:

• 17A Fasteners near hasps … and an anagram of 11-Down : DOOR LATCHES
• 55A Challenge for a fire-walker … and an anagram of 25-Down : RED HOT COALS
• 11D Vocational training provider … and an anagram of 55-Across : TRADE SCHOOL
• 25D Specialized tableware for serving some Mexican food … and an anagram of 17-Across : TACO HOLDERS

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Bill’s time: 8m 15s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

6 Apples with chips : IMACS

The iMac is a desktop computer platform that Apple introduced in 1998. One of the main features of the iMac is an “all-in-one” design, with the computer console and monitor integrated. The iMac also came in a range of colors that Apple marketed as “flavors”, such as strawberry, blueberry and lime.

14 Like a wet blanket : NO FUN

A wet blanket might be used to extinguish a fire. We use the phrase “wet blanket” figuratively to describe someone who tends to dampen enthusiasm or enjoyment.

15 Loaded chip : NACHO

The dish known as “nachos” was 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.

27 Inserts used in orthodontics : SPACERS

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry dealing with the straightening of teeth. The name comes from the Greek “orthos” meaning “straight” and “dontia” meaning “teeth”.

30 Nuptial exchanges : I DOS

Our word “nuptial” is an adjective meaning “of marriage, of the wedding ceremony”. The term derives from “nuptiae”, the Latin for “wedding, marriage”.

32 Snowboards, in lingo : RIDES

Lingo is specialized vocabulary. Journalese and legalese would be good examples.

34 Busy professional in Apr. : CPA

Certified public accountant (CPA)

38 Ancient Greek city-state : POLIS

The Greek word “polis” translates as “city”, although the term is often used in English to refer to the ancient Greek city-states.

40 E.V. battery capacity unit : KWH

The kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of energy, made up of the product of power (kilowatts – kW) and time (hour – h). We see “kWh” all the time, on our electricity bills.

Electric vehicle (EV)

43 Dos + seis : OCHO

In Spanish, “ocho” (eight) is the sum of “seis + dos” (six + two).

45 2016 Lucasfilm production starring Felicity Jones : ROGUE ONE

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is a 2016 movie that serves as a prequel to the original 1977 film “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. “Rogue One” is the improvised military call sign used by rebel soldiers who go on a mission to steal plans for the Death Star.

51 Thai dish that translates as “fried with soy sauce” : PAD SEE EW

Pad see ew is also known as Phat si io, and is a stir-fried noodle dish in Thai cuisine. “Phat si io” means “fried with soy sauce”. I love Thai food …

53 The Eiger, for one : ALP

The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is a noted peak for mountain climbing, with its treacherous north face being the most famous approach to the summit. Over sixty climbers have died since 1935 on that north face.

64 Justin Timberlake’s former band : NSYNC

Justin Timberlake got his break by appearing on TV’s “Star Search” from which he was given a starring role in “The New Mickey Mouse Club”. It was on “The New Mickey Mouse Club” that he met his future girlfriend Britney Spears, as well JC Chasez who would join Timberlake in the lineup of the boy band NSYNC.

Down

3 Supposed Roswell crasher : UFO

The Roswell UFO Incident took place in 1947. Some people believe that an extraterrestrial spacecraft crashed, with aliens aboard. After the initial reports the public accepted the US Military’s explanation of the crash, that the debris recovered belonged to an experimental high-altitude surveillance balloon. The whole incident was dug up again over 30 years later when a claim was made that there was a cover-up in 1947, and that the armed forces had recovered an alien craft and brought it to Roswell Army Air Field. “The National Enquirer” ran the story, and it has been running ever since.

6 QB goof: Abbr. : INT

In football, if a quarterback’s (QB’s) pass ends up in the hands of a cornerback (CB), then that’s an interception (INT).

7 Ernst who studied sonic booms : MACH

The Mach number of a moving object (like say an airplane) is its speed relative to the speed of sound. A plane traveling at Mach 2, for example, is moving at twice the speed of sound. The term “Mach” takes its name from the Austrian physicist Ernst Mach who published a groundbreaking paper in 1877 that even predicted the “sonic boom”.

10 Some scrubbers : SOS PADS

S.O.S is a brand of scouring pads made from steel wool impregnated with soap. The product was invented as a giveaway by an aluminum pot salesman in San Francisco called Ed Cox. His wife gave it the name “S.O.S” as an initialism standing for “Save Our Saucepans”. Note the punctuation! There is no period after the last S, and that is deliberate. When Cox went to register the trademark, he found that “S.O.S.” could not be a trademark because it was used as an international distress signal. So he dropped the period after the last S, and I hope made a lot of money for himself and his wife.

12 Foretell : AUGUR

The verb “to augur” means “to bode, serve as an omen”. The term comes from the name of religious officials in ancient Rome called augurs whose job it was to interpret signs and omens.

18 ___ Sea, outlet of the Amu Darya : ARAL

The Amu Darya is a major river in Central Asia that empties into the Aral Sea. It is also called the Oxus or Amu River.

23 Arizona player, informally : D-BACK

The Arizona Diamondbacks (also “D-backs”) joined Major League Baseball’s National League in 1998. By winning the World Series in 2001, the Diamondbacks became the fastest expansion team to do so in Major League history.

26 Presidential candidate of 1992 and 1996 : PEROT

Ross Perot graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1953, as president of his class. Perot served his 4-year commitment but then resigned his commission, apparently having become somewhat disillusioned with the navy. He was ranked number 101 on the Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans in 2012, and at that time was worth about $3.5 billion. Back in 1992, Perot ran as an independent candidate for US president. He founded the Reform Party in 1995, and ran as the Reform Party candidate for president in 1996.

35 Tubular pasta variety : PENNE

The pasta known as penne comes in two main types, i.e. penne lisce (which is smooth) and penne rigate (which is furrowed).

39 Yogi’s balancing stance with arms overhead : TREE POSE

The tree pose in yoga is more correctly known as “vriksasana”. It involves standing on one leg, with the other leg bent and the foot placed on the inner thigh of the straight leg. The hands are placed together and raised directly over the head.

44 Rite Aid competitor : 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”.

46 Irksome buzzer : GNAT

Gnats are attracted to the smell of rotting food, and vinegar. Simple homemade traps that use vinegar are often constructed to attract and kill gnats.

48 Like galleys : OARED

Galleys were large medieval ships found mainly in the Mediterranean. They were propelled by a combination of sails and oars.

49 Bit of sleepwear : TEDDY

The item of lingerie known as a teddy can also be called “camiknickers”. The alternative name was used when the one-piece garment was introduced in the twenties, a combination of a camisole and panties (aka “knickers”).

52 “Say ___” : WHEN

When!

56 Tolkien horde member : ORC

According to Tolkien, Orcs are small humanoids that live in his fantasy world of Middle-earth (also called “Mordor”). They are very ugly and dirty, and are fond of eating human flesh.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Entertain : AMUSE
6 Apples with chips : IMACS
11 Call upon, as for a position : TAP
14 Like a wet blanket : NO FUN
15 Loaded chip : NACHO
16 Wish undone : RUE
17 Fasteners near hasps … and an anagram of 11-Down : DOOR LATCHES
19 Ripen : AGE
20 More than a stone’s throw away : FAR
21 Like a laundry pile : HEAPED UP
23 Prelude to bandwidth throttling : DATA CAP
27 Inserts used in orthodontics : SPACERS
28 Adornment that may have a certain charm : BRACELET
30 Nuptial exchanges : I DOS
31 Followed a curve : ARCED
32 Prelude to bandwidth throttling : RIDES
34 Busy professional in Apr. : CPA
37 Talks sweetly : COOS
38 Ancient Greek city-state : POLIS
39 Subsequently : THEN
40 E.V. battery capacity unit : KWH
41 Ticketed : CITED
42 Be the head of, as a band : FRONT
43 Dos + seis : OCHO
45 2016 Lucasfilm production starring Felicity Jones : ROGUE ONE
47 In good shape financially : SOLVENT
50 Prepared to pop the question, say : KNEELED
51 Thai dish that translates as “fried with soy sauce” : PAD SEE EW
53 The Eiger, for one : ALP
54 “___ you serious?” : ARE
55 Challenge for a fire-walker … and an anagram of 25-Down : RED HOT COALS
60 ___ Tagesspiegel (German daily) : DER
61 Word with tall or short : … ORDER
62 Up to now : AS YET
63 Newsroom folks, for short : EDS
64 Justin Timberlake’s former band : NSYNC
65 Not self-sufficient : NEEDY

Down

1 “Details, please …?” : AND …
2 Ranch sound : MOO
3 Supposed Roswell crasher : UFO
4 Grass and clay, for tennis : SURFACES
5 Twined together : ENLACED
6 QB goof: Abbr. : INT
7 Ernst who studied sonic booms : MACH
8 Yearns (for) : ACHES
9 Bargain bin finds : CHEAPIES
10 Some scrubbers : SOS PADS
11 Vocational training provider … and an anagram of 55-Across : TRADE SCHOOL
12 Foretell : AUGUR
13 Friends and associates, in slang : PEEPS
18 ___ Sea, outlet of the Amu Darya : ARAL
22 Intro to -logical : ECO-
23 Arizona player, informally : D-BACK
24 → or ← : ARROW
25 Specialized tableware for serving some Mexican food … and an anagram of 17-Across : TACO HOLDERS
26 Presidential candidate of 1992 and 1996 : PEROT
29 Bathroom remodeling specialist : TILER
33 Passed without flying colors : DID OK
35 Tubular pasta variety : PENNE
36 Paid table stakes : ANTED
38 Groundbreakers : PIONEERS
39 Yogi’s balancing stance with arms overhead : TREE POSE
41 Root for : CHEER ON
42 Something a Tesla driver doesn’t need to carry : FUEL CAN
44 Rite Aid competitor : CVS
46 Irksome buzzer : GNAT
47 Ground-breaker : SPADE
48 Like galleys : OARED
49 Bit of sleepwear : TEDDY
52 “Say ___” : WHEN
56 Tolkien horde member : ORC
57 Vote for : AYE
58 Conducted : LED
59 Farm structure : STY

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