GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Across 1.
Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, found in temperate and tropical waters around the world (10)
5. Spice derived from the crocus flower (7)
10. Single game of snooker (5)
12. New Zealand’s second-largest regional council, by area (9)
13. French word for sea (3)
14. Product made by Cadbury since 1920, consisting of thinly folded milk chocolate (5)
15. Any example of exploitation by overcharging (3-3)
17. Member of a Germanic people who invaded the Roman Empire and captured Rome in 410AD (4)
18. “One of the ____ things to happen to you in life is to have a happy childhood”: Agatha Christie (8)
19. Great Dane who belongs to Shaggy Rogers (6,3)
23. Your ___: form of address given to a Roman Catholic cardinal (8)
27. 1960s medical drama TV series starring Richard Chamberlain (2,7)
29. Cords drawn together to fasten a shoe (5)
30. Informal name of the New Zealand national under-23 football team (9)
31. Former England football player and manager known as El Tel (8)
34. Nickname of an NFL team based in New Orleans (3,6)
36. Turn a _ _: ignore undesirable information (5,3)
40. Lightweight, doorless version of the Mini first produced by BMC in 1964 (4)
42. “Passion and __ bow down the mind”: Virgil (6)
44. In baseball, a powerful player who consistently hits home runs (7)
46. Small car produced by Fiat 1983-1995, whose name means ‘one’ in Italian (3)
47. Founding father of the People’s Republic of China (3,6)
48. Form of transport which went into decline in the 1950s but has
Down 1.
Spectacles with two distinct lens powers (8)
2. Steven Soderbergh film about the drug trade, starring Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones (7)
3. Empty ____: parents whose children have grown up and left home (7)
4. A mixture of insoluble particles in water (6)
5. Long stick used as support or a weapon (5)
6. Informal term for members of the FBI (4)
7. Character played by Sylvester Stallone in multiple films (5)
8. Asian country which has been ruled by the same family since its creation in 1948 (5,5)
9. Savoury crackers first introduced by Arnott’s in 1954 (6)
11. “Bad humour is an ___ of reality; good humour is an acceptance of it”: Malcom Muggeridge (7)
16. Flattest state in the US, whose highest point is 105m above sea level (7)
20. The mirror cracked from side to side / “The __ is come upon me,” cried / The Lady of Shallot (5)
21. Elizabethan sailor and explorer who said: “It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better” (5) had a revival in recent decades (5) 22. In Irish folklore, an obligation or
49. German businessman who prohibition imposed on a person by developed his first ready-made magic (4) mayonnaise in 1905 (8) 24. ___ Baby, 1958 song by Buddy
50. In Revelation 16:16, site of the Holly and the Crickets (5) last battle between good and evil 25. Drugs or essences once on the Day of Judgement (10) thought to be able to turn base metals into gold, or give eternal life (7)
26. Narrow opening in a cliff or the ground (5)
27. American rock band who had a cult 1980 hit with the song Whip It (4)
28. The UK’s only island city, with a population of more than 200,000
(10)
32. Upholstered dining bench along a wall in a bar or restaurant
(9)
33. Jason ____, lead singer of NZ band OpShop (8)
35. In snooker, a long-legged rest that can be placed over a ball without touching it (6)
37. Favourite food of Garfield the cat (7)
38. Country whose national day is April 23 (7)
39. French artist whose works included The Umbrellas and Luncheon of the Boating Party (6)
41. Grassy ___: site in Dealey Plaza, Dallas associated with the assassination of John F Kennedy (5)
43. Scottish golf course which has held the Open Championship 10 times, most recently in 2016 (5)
45. Muslim religious leader (4)
given in 1976. This stopped in 1972. I will give her the benefit of the doubt here but I do find it odd, as I am only two years younger.
Thirdly, Maria didn’t have an ‘‘adverse reaction’’, she developed vaccinia from touching the vaccine site and spreading the vaccinia virus to other parts of her body. She is correct, it wouldn’t have been reported to CARM, as CARM didn’t exist at the time.
Fourthly, all health professionals involved in vaccination report to CARM if an adverse reaction occurs post vaccine, even if they don’t think it is related.
Finally, every pregnant woman I know has got the Covid19 vaccine, with the added bonus that their baby will be born with protection as well.
Sally Scott, Auckland
Maria Thomas responds: I had the smallpox vaccination in 1976. The adverse reaction event was Eczema Vaccinatum, a lifethreatening illness, and I still suffer the consequences today. CARM was formerly known as CADR (Committee for Adverse Drug Reactions) which was formed in 1965. I currently work for my local district health board.