October 18, 2020

Title: ENDNOTES

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard & Paolo Pasco

Theme Answers:

NOSE FLUTE (18A: Nostril-blown instrument)

NORTH STAR STATE (23A: Nickname for Minnesota)

NOT TO BE OUTDONE (53A: "In a show of competitiveness...")

NOTRE DAME (60A: Paris cathedral)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer either begins with NO- and ends with -TE, or begins with NOT- and ends with -E. Therefore, the word NOTE makes up the ENDS of the theme answers.

Things I learned:

• IRA (29A: Saxophonist Jane ___ Bloom) Jane IRA Bloom was the first musician to be commissioned by the NASA Art Program, for which she created three works: Most Distant Galaxy, Fire & Imagination, and Beyond the Sky. Bloom, whose primary instrument is soprano saxophone, is a professor at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
• KATIE (11D: Hoops great Smith) KATIE Smith is the all-time leading scorer in women's professional basketball. Smith is currently an assistant WNBA coach for the Minnesota Lynx. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NOSE FLUTE (18A: Nostril-blown instrument) A NOSE FLUTE is exactly what it sounds like - an instrument that is played with air blown from the nose instead of the mouth. Nose flutes carved of bamboo or wood are popular in some places including Hawaii, the Philippines, and New Zealand. Plastic NOSE FLUTEs or nose whistles are sold as children's novelty toys. My husband is quite good at playing the NOSE FLUTE (of the plastic variety) - an interesting talent to have.
• LOLA (50A: Grandmother in Tagalog) I appreciated this new clue for LOLA, which is often clued pertaining to the song, "Copacabana."
• AOL (9D: Company hidden in "Paolo") Nice shoutout to Paolo here! 
• BEANO (55D: Game related to bingo) The game we know as bingo was played with dried beans in the 1920s and 1930s, and called BEANO. The game eventually became know as bingo sometime in the 1940s, though the origin of the name bingo is unknown.

Geography review:

• NORTH STAR STATE (23A: Nickname for Minnesota) The nickname "NORTH STAR STATE" is derived from Minnesota's State Motto, "L'Etoile du Nord," or "Star of the North." Other nicknames for Minnesota are: Land of 10,000 Lakes, The Gopher State, Agate State, True North, and State of Hockey.
• NOTRE-DAME (60A: Paris cathedral) The construction of NOTRE-DAME de Paris, which means "Our Lady of Paris," began in 1160. It is an example of French Gothic architecture. NOTRE-DAME caught fire on April 15, 2019. The roof and spire of the building were destroyed in the fire, but the structure remained intact. The building is currently undergoing stabilization work so reconstruction can begin.
• IRAN (72A: Saffron-producing country) Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of a particular crocus species. It is the world's most expensive spice. IRAN produces over 90% of the world's saffron.
• BOCA RATON (3D: City near Fort Lauderdale) BOCA RATON, Florida houses corporate headquarters of Office Depot, ADT, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It is also home to the Evert Tennis Academy and Florida Atlantic University.
• ARAB (28D: Many residents of Dearborn, Michigan) Part of the Detroit metropolitan area, Dearborn, Michigan has the largest proportion of ARAB Americans in the United States. Dearborn is home to the ARAB American National Museum, the first museum in the world dedicated to ARAB American history and culture.
• NAOMI (53D: Osaka-born tennis champion Osaka) NOAMI Osaka was born in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan.
• DELHI (56D: Center of India's National Capital Region) A National Capital Region is a district or area around a capital city. In addition to DELHI, India's National Capital Region includes Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon, and Noida.

The appearance of NOSE FLUTE in the puzzle amused me, and NOT TO BE OUTDONE, the rest of the puzzle did not disappoint. This was an enjoyable way to begin my Sunday morning.