0125-24 NY Times Crossword 25 Jan 24, Thursday

Constructed by: Sam Ezersky
Edited by: Will Shortz

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Today’s Theme (according to Bill): Mercurial Answers

Themed answers all refer back to MERCURY, which is cited in all of the themed clues:

• 17A Mercury is in this : GLASS THERMOMETER
• 26A Mercury might be in this : RETROGRADE
• 45A The Mercury might be in this : WNBA FINALS
• 58A Mercury was in this : BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

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Bill’s time: 17m 31s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Three-point letter you won’t find in Scrabble? : PSI

Psi is the 23rd and penultimate letter of the Greek alphabet, and the one that looks a bit like a trident or a pitchfork.

4 One of the Pointer Sisters : ANITA

The Pointer Sisters started out in 1969 as a duo, June and Bonnie Pointer. They grew to a quartet when sisters Anita and Ruth joined the lineup. Bonnie left the group to go solo, and the Pointer Sisters achieved their greatest success as a trio.

9 Chips, cookies, etc. : TECH

When you visit a website, often it will leave a little piece of text information called a “cookie” on your computer. As a cookie is a text file, and not executable, it is relatively harmless. However, as browsers routinely read these text files, cookies can be used by spyware. Basically, the browser can read the cookie and tell a lot about your browsing habits. This can be a good thing, so when you go back to your favorite websites you will be recognized and this can help you. For example, you may have shopped at a site and you’ll find that your shopping cart still has the items you were looking at, often because the items were stored in a cookie. However, they can be “bad” as some spyware uses the cookies to detect your browsing habits and can direct the browser to do things you may not want it to do. I do accept cookies, as they do enhance the browsing experience, but only from sites that I trust …

17 Mercury is in this : GLASS THERMOMETER

Mercury is the only metallic element that is a liquid at room temperature. Mercury used to be known as “hydrargyrum”, from the Greek “hydr-” meaning “water” and “argyros” meaning “silver”. As a result, Mercury’s modern chemical symbol is “Hg” (for “Hydrargyrum”).

20 “I’ve got it!” : EUREKA!

“Eureka” translates from Greek as “I have found it”. The word is usually associated with Archimedes, uttered as he stepped into his bath one day. His discovery was that the volume of water that was displaced was equal to that of the object (presumably his foot) that had been submerged. He used this fact to determine volume (and density) of a crown, something he needed in order to determine if it was made of pure gold or was a forgery.

21 Dangers in the Amazon : PIRANHAS

Piranhas are reputed to be able to strip an animal to its bones in seconds, but this is somewhat of a myth. Piranhas are not in fact strict carnivores, and usually are more of a nuisance to fishermen rather than a danger, as they tend to eat bait that has been set to catch other fish. Much of the reputation of the piranha is owed to the description written by President Theodore Roosevelt in his book “Through the Brazilian Wilderness”. President Roosevelt was somewhat hoodwinked though, as local fishermen put on a special “show” for him. They dumped hordes of hungry piranhas into a dammed section of a river and then tossed in a sliced up cow. President Roosevelt was pretty impressed by the orchestrated feeding frenzy.

23 Afterword : EPILOG

Our word “epilog” (also “epilogue”) applies to an addition at the end of a play or other literary work. The term ultimately comes from the Greek “epi-” signifying “in addition”, and “logos” meaning “speech”.

A preface is a book’s introduction that is written by the author himself or herself. A “foreword” is an introduction written by a different person, and precedes the author’s preface. Note the spelling of “foreword”, as opposed to the spelling of the relative direction “forward”. A book may also have an “afterword”, a commentary that may or may not be written by the author.

25 One with many stuffy clients, for short? : ENT

Ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT)

28 ___ Polo : MARCO

Marco Polo was a merchant from Venice and a famous traveler throughout Asia. Polo journeyed with his father and uncle on an epic tour of Central Asia and China that lasted 24 years. Marco tends to be the member of the party we remember today though, because it was he who documented their travels in a book called “Il Milione” (usually “The Travels of Marco Polo” in English).

30 Christmas party? : MAGI

“Magi” is the plural of the Latin word “magus”, a term applied to someone who was able to read the stars. Hence, “magi” is commonly used with reference to the “wise men from the East” who followed the star and visited Jesus soon after he was born. In Western Christianity, the three Biblical Magi are:

• Melchior: a scholar from Persia
• Caspar (also “Gaspar”): a scholar from India
• Balthazar: a scholar from Arabia

31 Party in the U.K. : LABOUR

The UK’s Labour Party was founded in 1900 in response to a demand by the electorate for representation of the urban working class. The party’s first leader was Scottish trade unionist Keir Hardie.

39 Hipsteresque, say : ARTY

Back in the early 40s, hipsters were just folks who were “hip”.

42 ___ nationalism, movement associated with the Baath Party : ARAB

The Ba’ath Party was founded in Syria in 1947. The party promotes the unification of the Arab world into one nation, and has the motto “Unity, Liberty, Socialism”.

45 The Mercury might be in this : WNBA FINALS

The Phoenix Mercury play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded in 1997 and is owned by businessman Robert Sarver, who also owns the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.

51 Rio or Sorento : KIA

Kia Motors is the second-largest manufacturer of cars in South Korea, behind Hyundai (and Hyundai is a part owner in Kia now). Kia was founded in 1944 as a manufacturer of bicycle parts, and did indeed produce Korea’s first domestic bicycle. The company’s original name was Kyungsung Precision Industry, with the Kia name introduced in 1952.

58 Mercury was in this : BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a marvelously unique song in the pop repertoire. It has a very appealing structure, with no chorus but three distinct parts and with three distinct “sounds”. The opening is truly a slow ballad, which morphs into an operatic middle section, ending with a really heavy, rock-guitar conclusion. The song monopolized the number one slot in the UK charts for weeks in 1975/76, and made a comeback in 1996 when it appeared in the movie “Wayne’s World”. Great stuff …

Freddie Mercury was a British singer-songwriter who was lead singer for the rock group Queen. Mercury wrote many of Queen’s hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Somebody to Love”, “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “We Are the Champions”. Mercury’s real name was Farrokh Bulsara, and he was born to Parsi parents in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) in East Africa. He grew up mainly in India, and arrived in England at the age of 17 after his family fled from the Zanzibar Revolution.

61 English poet Wilfred ___ : OWEN

Wilfred Owen was an English soldier and noted poet, famous for writing realistic poetry about the tragedies of trench warfare during WWI. Owen was killed in action only one week before the war ended, so most of his work was published posthumously.

63 Prefix with -phyte : NEO-

A neophyte is a recent convert to a particular doctrine or practice.

64 One’s parents, slangily, with “the” : … OLDS

That makes me one of the very olds …

65 Square : DWEEB

“Dweeb” is relatively recent American slang that came out of college life in the late sixties. Dweeb, squarepants, nerd; they’re all not-nice terms that mean the same thing, i.e. someone excessively studious and socially inept.

66 Sch. in Texas : SMU

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is located in University Park, Texas (part of Dallas) and was founded in 1911. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Mustangs. Also, SMU is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Down

3 Turkish inn : IMARET

Imarets were inns or hostels used by pilgrims throughout the Ottoman Empire. The network of imarets was set up to provide food to anyone in need, so they also served as soup kitchens, as it were.

9 Some Feds : T-MEN

A T-man is a law-enforcement agent of the US Treasury (“T” stands for “Treasury”).

12 The 19th Amendment is part of this : HERSTORY

“Herstory” is history that emphasizes the role of women. It is “her-story” as opposed to “his-tory”.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was written by the American suffragist leader, Alice Paul. Although Paul was successful in her campaign to get passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution (guaranteeing voting rights regardless of sex), her 1923 Equal Rights Amendment didn’t make it to the Senate floor until 1972. The amendment was passed by the Senate, and then headed to the state legislatures for the required ratification. 38 states had to approve the legislation for the amendment to be adopted, but only 35 states voted in favor before the deadline. The amendment is still pending, although about half of the fifty states have adopted the ERA into their state constitutions.

15 Bullfight bull : TORO

In Spanish, a “toro” (bull) attacks the “capa” (cape) in a bullfight.

19 Heated pool? : MAGMA

Magma is the molten material below the Earth’s surface. When magma cools, it forms igneous rock. “Magma” is a Greek term that describes a thick ointment.

29 Org. for lawyers : ABA

American Bar Association (ABA)

33 Smoothie bar order served with a spoon : ACAI BOWL

Açaí na tigela is a dish made from the frozen, mashed fruit of the açaí palm and served as a smoothie. Often topped with granola, banana, other berries and syrup, the dish is a specialty in much of Brazil. There’s even a savory version of açaí na tigela (“açaí in the bowl”) that includes shrimp or dried fish and tapioca. Açaí bowls are becoming very popular in North America, especially as a health food.

37 Brand once promoted as the “forbidden fragrance” : TABU

Tabu is a whole line of cosmetics and perfumes produced by the House of Dana. The company’s brand names were purchased by a Florida company called Dana Classic Fragrances in 1999.

43 Curling targets : BICEPS

The biceps muscle is made up of two bundles of muscle, both of which terminate at the same point near the elbow. The heads of the bundles terminate at different points on the scapula or shoulder blade. “Biceps” is Latin for “two-headed”.

49 Centrist in British politics, informally : LIB DEM

For most of the 1980s, the UK’s Liberal and Social Democratic Parties were in an alliance, and then finally merged into a party called the Liberal Democrats in 1988. The Lib Dems were the third largest party after the 2010 general election, with neither of the top two parties having sufficient seats to form a government. The Lib Dems agreed to enter into a coalition with the Conservative Party, with Tory leader David Cameron as Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister. I think it’s fair to say that it didn’t go well …

56 Bowling pins on the back right : TENS

In ten-pin bowling, the pins are arranged in a triangular arrangement. The pin at the front is the 1-pin. The pins at the back are number 7 through 10, from left to right.

57 ___ gai (Thai dish) : LARB

Larb is a traditional dish from Lao cuisine that is made with minced meat, fish sauce, lime juice, and various herbs and spices. It is often considered the national dish of Laos, although it is also popular in neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam. The word “larb” is derived from the Lao word “laap,” which means “to mince” or “to chop finely.”

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Three-point letter you won’t find in Scrabble? : PSI
4 One of the Pointer Sisters : ANITA
9 Chips, cookies, etc. : TECH
13 Response to “Who’s ready?” : I AM
14 Not free : AT A COST
16 Word with square or air : … MILE
17 Mercury is in this : GLASS THERMOMETER
20 “I’ve got it!” : EUREKA!
21 Dangers in the Amazon : PIRANHAS
22 What subs may sub for : A-TEAM
23 Afterword : EPILOG
25 One with many stuffy clients, for short? : ENT
26 Mercury might be in this : RETROGRADE
28 ___ Polo : MARCO
30 Christmas party? : MAGI
31 Party in the U.K. : LABOUR
32 Light touches : PATS
36 Is insufficient : WON’T DO
39 Hipsteresque, say : ARTY
40 Something posted from an online account : E-CHECK
42 ___ nationalism, movement associated with the Baath Party : ARAB
44 Here we are! : EARTH!
45 The Mercury might be in this : WNBA FINALS
51 Rio or Sorento : KIA
52 Have no more in stock : ARE OUT
54 Unit of radioactivity : CURIE
55 Lab report component : ABSTRACT
57 Doesn’t bother : LETS BE
58 Mercury was in this : BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
61 English poet Wilfred ___ : OWEN
62 Ice cream brand in West Coast supermarkets : DREYER’S
63 Prefix with -phyte : NEO-
64 One’s parents, slangily, with “the” : … OLDS
65 Square : DWEEB
66 Sch. in Texas : SMU

Down

1 Chewy, meaty dog treat : PIG EAR
2 Show of hands? : SALUTE
3 Turkish inn : IMARET
4 “___ way!” (“Nice job!”) : ATTA
5 Reply found backward in “No thanks” : NAH
6 Clinch, as a victory : ICE
7 Lethargic : TORPID
8 Answer to the riddle “What can someone wear that never goes out of style?” : A SMILE
9 Some Feds : T-MEN
10 Choice words : EITHER-OR
11 Having a neat appearance : CLEAN-CUT
12 The 19th Amendment is part of this : HERSTORY
14 Reply in which one parent says to go talk to the other parent : ASK MOM
15 Bullfight bull : TORO
18 Burn the surface of : SEAR
19 Heated pool? : MAGMA
23 “And so …” : ERGO …
24 Total hassle : PAIN
27 Goggle : GAWK
29 Org. for lawyers : ABA
31 Sliceable food purchase : LOAF
32 Game for a toddler : PEEKABOO
33 Smoothie bar order served with a spoon : ACAI BOWL
34 Defeated soundly : THRASHED
35 Good to go : SET
37 Brand once promoted as the “forbidden fragrance” : TABU
38 “Phooey!” : DRAT!
41 Allure : CHARM
43 Curling targets : BICEPS
45 Cautionary store sign from an alcohol retailer : WE CARD
46 Used : NOT NEW
47 “Phooey!” : NUTS!
48 Light charges? : ARSONS
49 Centrist in British politics, informally : LIB DEM
50 “Bye!” : SEE YOU!
53 Fridge visit for a midnight snack, say : RAID
56 Bowling pins on the back right : TENS
57 ___ gai (Thai dish) : LARB
59 Main ingredient in a Longshoreman : RYE
60 “Tee” follower : -HEE

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