0728-21 NY Times Crossword 28 Jul 21, Wednesday

Constructed by: Alex Rosen & Brad Wilber
Edited by: Will Shortz

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Today’s Reveal Answer(s) Jackson Pollock

Themed answers each include the circled letters P-A-I-N-T. All that PAINT goes BACK AND FORTH in the grid, in all four directions:

• 39A Make art like 53-/21-Across (as suggested by this puzzle’s circled letters?) : DRIBBLE

• 53A With 21-Across, artist known to 39-Across pigments back and forth onto canvases : JACKSON …
• 21A See 53-Across : … POLLOCK

• 17A Porky’s significant other : PETUNIA PIG
• 61A ___ station, Central London railway terminal : PADDINGTON
• 11D Somewhat : UP TO A POINT
• 29D Where you might find love away from home? : TENNIS CAMP

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Bill’s time: 7m 26s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Buds that are very close : BFFS

Best friend forever (BFF)

5 “For those who think young” sloganeer, once : PEPSI

Pepsi has used many, many slogans over the years. The slogans range from “The Choice of a New Generation” featuring Michael Jackson in the eighties and nineties, to the original “Twice as Much for a Nickel” that ran from 1939 to 1950.

10 Drainage collector : SUMP

The term “sump” has been used for a “pit to collect water” since the middle of the 17th century. Prior to that, “sump” meant “marsh, morass”.

14 Cookie that has been deemed kosher since 1997 : OREO

The Oreo was the best-selling cookie in the 20th century, and almost 500 billion of them have been sold since they were introduced in 1912 by Nabisco. In those early days the creme filling was made with pork fat, but today vegetable oils are used instead. If you take a bite out of an Oreo sold outside of America you might notice a difference from the homegrown cookie, as coconut oil is added in the overseas version to give a different taste.

15 Walled city of Spain : AVILA

Ávila is famous for the walled defenses around the old city (“la muralla de Ávila”) that date back to 1090. They were constructed out of brown granite, and are still in excellent repair. There are nine gateways and eighty-towers in all. Even the cathedral built between the 12th and 14th centuries is part of the city’s defenses, so it looks like an imposing fortress.

16 Sports event in which athletes try to avoid being touched : EPEE

The French word for sword is “épée”. In competitive fencing the épée is connected to a system that records an electrical signal when legal contact is made on an opponent’s body.

17 Porky’s significant other : PETUNIA PIG

Petunia Pig is a cartoon character in the “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” universes. Petunia is the girlfriend of Porky Pig and has been around since 1937.

Porky Pig was the first of the characters created by Warner Bros. to become a hit with audiences. Porky Pig is the guy with the line at the end of each cartoon, “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!” If you don’t mind a little adult language, there’s a very funny 11-second Porky Pig clip that the studio released on a blooper reel in 1938. Porky Pig stutters out “Son of g-g-gun”, only he doesn’t say “gun” …

19 Gillette razor handle : ATRA

Fortunately for crossword constructors, the Atra was introduced by Gillette in 1977, as the first razor with a pivoting head. The Atra was sold as the Contour in some markets and its derivative products are still around today.

26 Letters at a bar : IPA

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.

34 Diatribe trigger : IRE

A diatribe is a bitter discourse. The term “diatribe” comes from the Greek “diatribein” meaning “to wear away”.

35 Official proceedings : ACTA

Actum (plural “acta”) is the Latin word for “deed”. “Acta” is used in English to describe many official records, including minutes, proceedings etc.

38 Original ___ : SIN

In the Christian tradition, original sin is the state of sin that exists in all humanity as a result of Adam’s first disobedience in the Garden of Eden. According to the Roman Catholic faith, only three people were born without original sin: the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist.

41 Suffix with quartz : -ITE

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. When sandstone is subject to heat and pressure it can turn into metamorphic rock called quartzite.

42 Pat who wrote “The Prince of Tides” and “The Great Santini” : CONROY

Pat Conroy is a very successful author who presumably has made quite a bit of money out of at least two of his books. Both “The Prince of Tides” and “The Great Santini” were made into highly successful Hollywood movies.

44 Male hedgehog : BOAR

Hedgehogs are spiny mammals that have adapted to a nocturnal life. Even though they have spines, hedgehogs are unrelated to porcupines. The term “hedgehog” arose in the 15th century. They are often found in hedgerows and have hog-like snouts, hence the name “hedgehog”.

45 Homer’s neighbor on “The Simpsons” : NED

Ned Flanders lives next door to Homer Simpson on TV’s “The Simpsons”. Ned is voiced by actor Harry Shearer, and has been around since the very first episode aired in 1989.

49 Biol. or chem. : SCI

Chemistry (chem.) and biology (biol.) are sciences (scis.).

50 Oklahoma’s state tree : REDBUD

Specifically, the eastern redbud is Oklahoma’s state tree.

53 With 21-Across, artist known to 39-Across pigments back and forth onto canvases : JACKSON …
21D See 53-Across : … POLLOCK

Jackson Pollock was an abstract expressionist painter who famously used a “drip painting” style. Pollock was married to Lee Krasner, herself an influential abstract expressionist.

56 Melodic passage : ARIOSO

An arioso (plural “ariosi”) is a solo vocal piece in a classical work such as an opera or an oratorio. An arioso’s structure lies somewhere between that of a full-blown aria and speech-like recitative.

61 ___ station, Central London railway terminal : PADDINGTON

London Paddington is a major railway station in the British capital. Among the station’s claim to fame is that it is the terminus for the express trains from Heathrow airport. Also, the title character in the “Paddington Bear” stories was named for the station, as he was found there by the Brown family.

64 Long ride? : LIMO

The word “limousine” derives from the name of the French city of Limoges. The area around Limoges is called the Limousin, and it gave its name to a cloak hood worn by local shepherds. In early motor cars, a driver would sit outside in the weather while the passengers would sit in the covered compartment. The driver would often wear a limousin-style protective hood, giving rise to that type of transportation being called a “limousine”. Well, that’s how the story goes …

66 Leaning to the right: Abbr. : ITAL

Italic type leans to the right, and is often used to provide emphasis in text. The style is known as “italic” because the stylized calligraphic form of writing originated in Italy, probably in the Vatican.

67 Org. for Lt. Columbo : LAPD

“Columbo” is a police drama that aired from 1971-78, with some more episodes made as recently as 2003. Columbo was played by Peter Falk, although the character of Columbo was first played by Bert Freed in 1960 in an episode of “The Chevy Mystery Show”. That first appearance was so successful that the episode was adapted for the stage in 1962, with Thomas Mitchell taking on the role. Then, the same episode was stretched into a TV movie in 1968, with Peter Falk playing Lt. Columbo for the first time.

68 Jetés, e.g. : LEAPS

A jeté is a leap in ballet, with the term “jeté” coming from the French word “jeter” meaning “to throw”. A “jeté en avant” is a “leap to the front”, towards the audience. A “grand jeté” is a long horizontal jump, a split in the air, leaping from one foot to the other.

69 One leaning to the right : TORY

“Tory” comes from the Irish word “tóraí” meaning “outlaw, robber”. The term “tory” was originally used for an Irish outlaw and later became a term of abuse for Irish rebels. At the end of the reign of King Charles II in Britain, there was a political divide with one side being called “Whigs” and the other “Tories”. Historically, the term “Tory” evolved to basically mean a supporter of the British monarchy, and indeed was used to describe those who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. Today, “Tory” is used for a member of the British Conservative Party.

Down

3 Cheese in a spanakopita : FETA

Spanakopita is a savory pastry from Greece. The term “spanakopita” translates from Greek as “spinach pie”. The pie’s filling includes feta cheese, onions and egg, along with the spinach.

4 Boozehounds : SOUSES

The verb “to souse” dates back to the 14th century and means “to pickle, steep in vinegar”. In the early 1600s, the usage was applied to someone pickled in booze, a drunkard.

5 Noted colonial pamphleteer : PAINE

Thomas Paine was an English author who achieved incredible success with his pamphlet “Common Sense” published in 1776 which advocated independence of colonial America from Britain. Paine had immigrated to the American colonies just two years before his pamphlet was published, and so was just in time to make a major contribution to the American Revolution.

6 Señora Perón : EVA

Eva Perón was the second wife of President Juan Perón who was in office from 1946 to 1955. The Argentine First Lady was known affectionately by the people as “Evita”, the Spanish language diminutive of “Eva”. “Evita” is also the title of a tremendously successful musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that is based on the life of Eva Perón.

8 Moccasin, e.g. : SLIP-ON

“Moc” is short for “moccasin”, a type of shoe. The moccasin is a traditional form of footwear worn by members of many Native American tribes.

9 False friend in Shakespeare : IAGO

Iago is the schemer in Shakespeare’s “Othello”. He is a soldier who fought alongside Othello and feels hard done by, missing out on promotion. Iago hatches a plot designed to discredit his rival Cassio by insinuating that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona, Othello’s wife.

10 Babe in the Arctic : SEAL PUP

Male seals are called bulls, females are cows, and babies are pups.

12 Chicago exchange, in brief : MERC

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (the “Merc”) started its life as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board in 1898. The Merc is the site for exchange of commodities, among other things.

18 Veterans Day mo. : NOV

Veterans Day used to be known as Armistice Day, and is observed on November 11th each year. This particular date was chosen as the Armistice that ended WWI was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

22 Daffy Duck, notably : LISPER

Daffy Duck first appeared on the screen in “Porky’s Duck Hunt” in 1937. In the original cartoon, Daffy was just meant to have a small role, but he was a big hit as he had so much sass. Even back then, Daffy was voiced by the ubiquitous Mel Blanc.

24 Indian flatbread : ROTI

In an Indian restaurant, naan bread is very popular. Roti is an unleavened cousin of naan.

25 Low-ranking sailor : SWABBIE

“Swabbie” (also “swabby, swab, swabber”) is a slang term meaning “sailor” that we’ve been using since the late 1700s. A swab was originally a member of the crew assigned to the swabbing (mopping) of the ship’s decks.

27 What you need some wiggle room to do? : DISCO

Discotheques first appeared during WWII in Occupied France. American-style music (like jazz and jitterbug dances) was banned by the Nazis, so French natives met in underground clubs that they called discotheques where records were often played on just a single turntable. After the war, these clubs came out into the open. One famous Paris discotheque was called “Whiskey a Gogo”. In that Paris disco, non-stop music was played using two turntables next to a dance-floor, and this concept spread around the world.

28 Betelgeuse’s constellation : ORION

The very recognizable constellation of Orion is named for the Greek god Orion, the Hunter. If you take a look at the star in Orion’s “right shoulder”, the second brightest star in the constellation, you might notice that it is quite red in color. This is the famous star called Betelgeuse, a red supergiant, a huge star that is on its way out. Betelgeuse is expected to explode into a supernova within the next thousand years or so. You don’t want to miss that …

29 Where you might find love away from home? : TENNIS CAMP

In tennis the score of zero is designated as “love”. Some people believe that this usage originates from the French “l’oeuf” (meaning “the egg”). The idea is that the written character “0” looks like an egg.

32 Fragrant compound : ESTER

Esters are very common chemicals. The smaller, low-molecular weight esters are usually pleasant smelling and are often found in perfumes. At the other end of the scale, the higher-molecular weight nitroglycerin is a nitrate ester and is very explosive, and polyester is a huge molecule and is a type of plastic. Fats and oils found in nature are fatty acid esters of glycerol known as glycerides.

33 Like an oboe’s sound : REEDY

The oboe is perhaps my favorite of the reed instruments. The name “oboe” comes from the French “hautbois” which means “high wood”.

35 Dreamboat of a guy : ADONIS

In Greek mythology, Adonis is a beautiful young god loved by Aphrodite. Adonis dies in a hunting accident (gored by a boar), but not before he gives Aphrodite a child. Adonis was originally a Phoenician god “absorbed” into Greek lore (Phoenicia is modern day Lebanon). The child born of Adonis to Aphrodite was called Beroe, after which is named Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. We also use the term “adonis” to mean “beautiful male”.

37 Greeting in Rio : OLA

“Olá” is both Spanish and Portuguese for “hello”.

40 “Be ___” (motto for Wikipedia contributors) : BOLD

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, and is the most-used reference site on the Internet. The site was launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001. I, for one, am very grateful …

52 Samovar : URN

The samovar originated in Russia. It is often a very elegant water boiler, one usually used for making tea. As such, there is often an attachment on top of a samovar to keep a teapot warm.

54 Running shoe brand : AVIA

The “Avia” brand name for athletic shoes was chosen as “avia” is the Latin word for “to fly”, and suggests the concept of aviation. Avia was founded in Oregon in 1979.

55 Gem that’s a woman’s name : OPAL

97% of the world’s opals come from Australia, so it’s no surprise perhaps that the opal is the national gemstone of the country. The state of South Australia provides the bulk of the world’s production, i.e. about 80%.

62 Narc’s org. : DEA

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

63 Tango flourish : DIP

The dramatic dance called the tango originated in the late 1800s in the area along the border between Argentina and Uruguay. Dancers and orchestras from Buenos Aires in particular traveled to Europe and beyond in the early twentieth century and brought the tango with them. The tango craze first struck Europe in Paris in the 1910s, and from there spread to London and Berlin, crossing the Atlantic to New York in 1913.

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Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Buds that are very close : BFFS
5 “For those who think young” sloganeer, once : PEPSI
10 Drainage collector : SUMP
14 Cookie that has been deemed kosher since 1997 : OREO
15 Walled city of Spain : AVILA
16 Sports event in which athletes try to avoid being touched : EPEE
17 Porky’s significant other : PETUNIA PIG
19 Gillette razor handle : ATRA
20 Make wise through experience : SEASON
21 See 53-Across : … POLLOCK
23 Exceedingly : EVER SO
26 Letters at a bar : IPA
27 Signal that a reply is coming in a messaging app : DOTS
30 Accept responsibility for : OWN
31 Terrific : SUPER
34 Diatribe trigger : IRE
35 Official proceedings : ACTA
37 Attempt to block : OPPOSE
38 Original ___ : SIN
39 Make art like 53-/21-Across (as suggested by this puzzle’s circled letters?) : DRIBBLE
41 Suffix with quartz : -ITE
42 Pat who wrote “The Prince of Tides” and “The Great Santini” : CONROY
44 Male hedgehog : BOAR
45 Homer’s neighbor on “The Simpsons” : NED
46 Source of some rings : ONION
47 Industry that encourages strikes? : OIL
48 Modest reply to a compliment : I TRY
49 Biol. or chem. : SCI
50 Oklahoma’s state tree : REDBUD
53 With 21-Across, artist known to 39-Across pigments back and forth onto canvases : JACKSON …
56 Melodic passage : ARIOSO
60 Removal from danger, informally : EVAC
61 ___ station, Central London railway terminal : PADDINGTON
64 Long ride? : LIMO
65 Suffered a wipeout : ATE IT
66 Leaning to the right: Abbr. : ITAL
67 Org. for Lt. Columbo : LAPD
68 Jetés, e.g. : LEAPS
69 One leaning to the right : TORY

Down

1 Conks : BOPS
2 Unoccupied : FREE
3 Cheese in a spanakopita : FETA
4 Boozehounds : SOUSES
5 Noted colonial pamphleteer : PAINE
6 Señora Perón : EVA
7 Small hard seed : PIP
8 Moccasin, e.g. : SLIP-ON
9 False friend in Shakespeare : IAGO
10 Babe in the Arctic : SEAL PUP
11 Somewhat : UP TO A POINT
12 Chicago exchange, in brief : MERC
13 Like times that are the most expensive : PEAK
18 Veterans Day mo. : NOV
22 Daffy Duck, notably : LISPER
24 Indian flatbread : ROTI
25 Low-ranking sailor : SWABBIE
27 What you need some wiggle room to do? : DISCO
28 Betelgeuse’s constellation : ORION
29 Where you might find love away from home? : TENNIS CAMP
32 Fragrant compound : ESTER
33 Like an oboe’s sound : REEDY
35 Dreamboat of a guy : ADONIS
36 Weep : CRY
37 Greeting in Rio : OLA
40 “Be ___” (motto for Wikipedia contributors) : BOLD
43 Pacific food fish : ROCK COD
47 Highly decorated : ORNATE
48 “That’s cool, daddy-o!” : I DIG IT!
51 Taunts so as to get a reaction : BAITS
52 Samovar : URN
53 Come together : JELL
54 Running shoe brand : AVIA
55 Gem that’s a woman’s name : OPAL
57 Palindromic guy’s name : OTTO
58 Succeed and then some : SOAR
59 “Recycle ___” (sign on a bin) : ONLY
62 Narc’s org. : DEA
63 Tango flourish : DIP

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