0307-23 NY Times Crossword 7 Mar 23, Tuesday

Constructed by: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano & Matthew Stock
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Reveal Answer: Opposites Attract

Themed answers each start with two words that are OPPOSITES:

  • 42A Saying about compatible partners … as suggested by the starts of the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues? : OPPOSITES ATTRACT
  • 18A *Doing something just for fun : OFF ON A LARK
  • 25A *2010s HBO drama series that starred Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman : BIG LITTLE LIES
  • 53A *Made a hasty exit : LEFT RIGHT AWAY
  • 67A *Leading the charge : OUT IN FRONT

Bill’s time: 5m 40s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

4 Olympics gear for Lindsey Vonn : SKIS

Lindsey Vonn is a World Champion alpine ski racer from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is one of the few women to have won World Cup races in all five alpine racing disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined. In fact, Vonn is the most successful US ski racer in history.

15 Some male deer : HARTS

Nowadays, a hart is a male red deer over five years old. A hind is a female red deer.

20 Marisa of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” : TOMEI

Marisa Tomei’s first screen role was in the daytime soap “As the World Turns”, but her break came with a recurring role in “The Cosby Show” spin-off “A Different World”. Tomei won an Oscar for her delightful performance in “My Cousin Vinny” in 1992.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a 2017 superhero film. It is a “reboot” of the “Spider-Man” series, introducing a new storyline, and new actors to play the main characters. English actor Tom Holland has the title role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, with Marisa Tomei playing Peter’s Aunt May Parker.

21 Pinkish source of protein : 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.

25 *2010s HBO drama series that starred Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman : BIG LITTLE LIES

“Big Little Lies” is a 2017 TV miniseries that is based on a 2014 novel of the same name. It stars Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley as three women who, while dealing with their own emotional problems, find themselves involved in a murder investigation. I haven’t seen this one, but hear very good things …

28 Medical show settings, in brief : ERS

Emergency room (ER)

31 Greek “P” : RHO

Rho is the Greek letter that looks just like our Roman letter “p”, although it is equivalent to the Roman letter R. It is the 17th letter in the Greek alphabet.

33 Ruling house of the Mideast : SAUD

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab country in the Middle East and is the world’s largest oil producer, home to the world’s largest oil reserves. The Saudi dynasty started in central Arabia in 1744 when the secular leader Muhammad ibn Saud joined forces with the Islamic scholar and Imam, Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab. At the time, Saud was a ruler of a town near Riyadh and he was determined to bring “true” Islam to the Arabian peninsula. Since 1744 the fortunes of the Saudi family have risen and fallen, but it is that same family who rules what we know today as Saudi Arabia.

39 Money in India : RUPEE

The rupee is a unit of currency used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. The term “rupee” comes from the Sanskrit word “rupya”, which once meant “stamped, impressed” and then “coin”.

45 Shorthand writer, for short : STENO

Stenography is the process of writing in shorthand. The term comes from the Greek “steno” (narrow) and “graphe” (writing).

52 TV’s Navarro or Cabrera : ANA

Ana Navarro is a Nicaraguan-born, American political strategist and commentator. Navarro is a lifelong Republican who worked for Governor Jeb Bush and for Senator John McCain. However, she was very critical of presidential candidate Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign. She was so vehement in her anti-Trump views that she ended up voting for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the election.

Ana Cabrera is a journalist from Denver who joined CNN in 2013. She took over as anchor of CNN’s weekend show “CNN Newsroom” in 2017.

60 “The Jungle Book” bear : BALOO

“The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling was originally published in 1894, and is a collection of adventure stories or fables featuring the animals of the jungle and a young boy named Mowgli. Baloo is a sloth bear that teaches the cubs of a wolf pack the Law of the Jungle. Baloo’s most challenging pupil however is no lupine, but rather the man-cub Mowgli.

61 Andean pack animals : LLAMAS

The llama is a camelid mammal very much associated with the Andean cultures. Despite the association with South America, it is thought that the ancestors of the modern llama migrated south from the Great Plains of North America about 40 million years ago.

71 Info for analysis : DATA

Our word “data” (singular “datum”) comes from the Latin “datum” meaning “given”. The idea is that data are “things given”.

Down

1 Id checkers? : EGOS

Sigmund Freud created a structural model of the human psyche, breaking it into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is that part of the psyche containing the basic instinctual drives. The ego seeks to please the id by causing realistic behavior that benefits the individual. The superego almost has a parental role, contradicting the id by introducing critical thinking and morals to behavioral choices.

2 ___ Romeo (luxury car brand) : ALFA

The “Alfa” in “Alfa Romeo” is actually an acronym, one standing for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (“Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company”). ALFA was an enterprise founded in 1909 and which was taken over by Nicola Romeo in 1915. In 1920 the company name was changed to Alfa Romeo.

3 “omg hahahaha” : ROFL

Rolling on floor laughing (ROFL)

4 The world’s third-largest city, behind Tokyo and Delhi : SHANGHAI

Shanghai is a major city on the east coast of China that is home to the busiest container port in the world. The name “Shanghai” translates as “Upon-the-Sea”.

5 Actor/comedian Penn : KAL

Indian-American actor Kal Penn made a name for himself in the “Harold & Kumar” series of comedy films. These so-called “stoner comedies” are not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed him playing his more mainstream roles on TV’s “House” and “24”. He left the world of acting when President Obama won the 2008 election to work as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement (although he did leave the White House briefly to film the “Harold & Kumar” sequel).

6 Resident of Mosul : IRAQI

Mosul is located in northern Iraq and is the third largest city in the country, after Baghdad and Basra. It is located on the west bank of the Tigris river, opposite the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh in the east bank. Mosul was captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2014. Those residents of Mosul who did not escape suffered under the rule of ISIL until the city’s liberation following the Battle of Mosul in 2016/2017.

7 Work it on the catwalk : STRUT

In the world of fashion, the runway or catwalk is a platform used by models to show their clothes. The platform usually projects into the audience.

8 Foamy flourish from a barista : LATTE ART

“Latte art” is the name given to the designs that can be drawn on the surface of coffee drinks. Some of those designs can be quite intricate.

A barista is a person who serves coffee in a coffee shop. “Barista” is Italian for “bartender”.

12 Logan Roy’s children in “Succession,” e.g. : HEIRS

“Succession” is a very popular dark comedy-drama series that premiered in 2018. It’s about a family-owned, global media company. The “succession” in question is who will get to run the empire after the passing of the ailing family patriarch. The marvelous Scottish actor Brian Cox plays the head of the company Logan Roy.

14 What a sonogram might show : WOMB

A sonogram is an image made using ultrasound. “Ultrasound” is the name given to sound energy that has frequencies above the audible range.

19 Dark film genre : NOIR

The expression “film noir” has French origins, but only in that it was coined by a French critic in describing a style of Hollywood film. The term, meaning “black film” in French, was first used by Nino Frank in 1946. Film noir often applies to a movie with a melodramatic plot and a private eye or detective at its center. Good examples would be “The Big Sleep” and “D.O.A”.

23 National Mall tree : ELM

The National Mall is a park in downtown Washington, D.C. It is home to several museums that are part of the Smithsonian, as well as the National Gallery of Art.

27 Dern of 25-Across : LAURA
[25A *2010s HBO drama series that starred Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman : BIG LITTLE LIES]

Actress Laura Dern is the daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd. Among her many notable roles, Laura Dern played the Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the 2008 movie “Recount”, and Dr. Ellie Sattler in the 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park”.

30 Avocados, eggs and berries, in adspeak : SUPERFOODS

We hear the word “superfood” a lot these days. I think it’s important that we realize that our friends in marketing coined the term to promote foods that have supposed health benefits, even though there’s no obligation to prove those health benefits exist. Since 2007, the European Union (EU) has banned the use of the term “superfood” in marketing of foodstuffs unless there is credible scientific research to back up any health claim. Good for the EU …

34 “___ pass Go, ___ collect $200” (Monopoly phrase) : DO NOT

In the game of Monopoly, a player collects a salary of $200 when he or she passes “GO”.

36 Book or movie suggestion, for short : REC

Recommendation (rec.)

37 Bolivian bear : OSO

In Spanish, “osa” is a female bear, and “oso” is a male. An “oso” might be found in “un zoológico” (a zoo).

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America that is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and Argentina. The land now occupied by Bolivia was originally part of the Inca Empire. The country declared independence from Spain in 1809, which led to 16 years of war. When the Republic was finally named, “Bolivia” was chosen in honor of Venezuelan-born revolutionary leader, Simón Bolívar.

38 Spa amenity : SAUNA

As my Finnish-American wife will tell you, “sauna” is a Finnish word. It is pronounced more correctly as “sow-nah” (“sow”, as in the female pig).

40 Nobel prize field, in brief : ECON

The Peace Prize is the most famous of the five prizes bequeathed by Alfred Nobel. The others are for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature. There is also a Nobel Prize in Economics that is awarded along with the original five, but it is funded separately and is awarded “in memory of Alfred Nobel”. Four of the prizes are awarded by Swedish organizations (Alfred Nobel was a Swede) and so the award ceremonies take place in Stockholm. The Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and is presented in Oslo.

41 Blues singer James : ETTA

Etta James was best known for her beautiful rendition of the song “At Last”. Sadly, as she disclosed in her autobiography, James lived a life that was ravaged by drug addiction leading to numerous legal and health problems. Ms. James passed away in January 2012 having suffered from leukemia.

49 Mama’s hermana : TIA

In Spanish, the “hermana” (sister) of your “madre” (mother) is your “tia” (aunt).

64 Otis Redding’s record label : STAX

Stax Records was founded in 1957 as Satellite Records. The biggest star to record with Stax was the great Otis Redding.

68 Here, in Haiti : ICI

The Republic of Haiti occupies the smaller, western portion of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. The rest of the island is taken up by the Dominican Republic. Haiti is one of only two nations in the Americas to have French as an official language, the other being Canada.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Knack for music appreciation : EAR
4 Olympics gear for Lindsey Vonn : SKIS
8 Gate fastener : LATCH
13 Luminesce : GLOW
15 Some male deer : HARTS
17 Best competitive stuff : A-GAME
18 *Doing something just for fun : OFF ON A LARK
20 Marisa of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” : TOMEI
21 Pinkish source of protein : SALMON
22 “Shh!” : QUIET!
24 Make mistakes : ERR
25 *2010s HBO drama series that starred Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman : BIG LITTLE LIES
28 Medical show settings, in brief : ERS
31 Greek “P” : RHO
32 Word of respect with an apostrophe in the middle : MA’AM
33 Ruling house of the Mideast : SAUD
35 Natural hairstyles : AFROS
39 Money in India : RUPEE
42 Saying about compatible partners … as suggested by the starts of the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues? : OPPOSITES ATTRACT
45 Shorthand writer, for short : STENO
46 Clean with steel wool, say : SCOUR
47 Oodles and oodles : A LOT
48 Blowout : ROUT
50 “Eh, I pass” : NAH
52 TV’s Navarro or Cabrera : ANA
53 *Made a hasty exit : LEFT RIGHT AWAY
59 “How was ___ know?” : I TO
60 “The Jungle Book” bear : BALOO
61 Andean pack animals : LLAMAS
65 That one and that one : THOSE
67 *Leading the charge : OUT IN FRONT
69 Not warranted or appropriate : UNDUE
70 Support for a leg injury : BRACE
71 Info for analysis : DATA
72 Brainteaser : POSER
73 Evening gown feature : SLIT
74 Put an end to : NIX

Down

1 Id checkers? : EGOS
2 ___ Romeo (luxury car brand) : ALFA
3 “omg hahahaha” : ROFL
4 The world’s third-largest city, behind Tokyo and Delhi : SHANGHAI
5 Actor/comedian Penn : KAL
6 Resident of Mosul : IRAQI
7 Work it on the catwalk : STRUT
8 Foamy flourish from a barista : LATTE ART
9 Long, long ___ : AGO
10 Grammy-nominated psychedelic music act with an animal in its name : TAME IMPALA
11 “Lemme borrow you for a sec” : C’MERE
12 Logan Roy’s children in “Succession,” e.g. : HEIRS
14 What a sonogram might show : WOMB
16 Variety show bit : SKIT
19 Dark film genre : NOIR
23 National Mall tree : ELM
26 Artist-friendly living spaces : LOFTS
27 Dern of 25-Across : LAURA
28 That one and that one, in Spanish : ESOS
29 Fully attentive : RAPT
30 Avocados, eggs and berries, in adspeak : SUPERFOODS
34 “___ pass Go, ___ collect $200” (Monopoly phrase) : DO NOT
36 Book or movie suggestion, for short : REC
37 Bolivian bear : OSO
38 Spa amenity : SAUNA
40 Nobel prize field, in brief : ECON
41 Blues singer James : ETTA
43 Brewpub order that’s tart to the taste : SOUR BEER
44 Big fish catcher : TRAWL NET
49 Mama’s hermana : TIA
51 A laugh and a ___ : HALF
53 Got visibly excited, in a way : LIT UP
54 Prefix with centrism or cultural : ETHNO-
55 Handful of hair gel, e.g. : GLOB
56 Awful amount of time to be stuck in traffic : HOURS
57 Complete and utter : TOTAL
58 One of 120 in a football field, technically : YARD
62 Ghostly sound effect : MOAN
63 Objecting to : ANTI
64 Otis Redding’s record label : STAX
66 Take to court : SUE
68 Here, in Haiti : ICI