December 2, 2020

Title: DROP SHOTS

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

POTATO CHIP (3D: Crunchy bit in a sandwich)

KEEP A COOL HEAD (8D: Remain calm under pressure)

MORALE BOOSTER (17A: Something to lift people's spirits)

MEMORY BANK (30D: Information storage unit)

Theme synopsis: The last word of each theme answer can precede the word SHOT, giving us a CHIP SHOT, a HEAD SHOT, a BOOSTER SHOT, and a BANK SHOT. Since the theme answers are all Down entries, we have a group of DROP SHOTS.

Things I learned:

• SKI (40D: Compete like Seba Johnson) Seba Johnson represented the Virgin Islands in giant slalom and Super-G at the 1988 Winter Olympics. She was 14 years old at the time, making her the youngest alpine SKI racer in Olympic history. She was also the first Black woman to SKI in the Olympics. Seba Johnson's skis are on display at the Smithsonian in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CAPS (1A: ___ Lock (keyboard key) I am certainly grateful for CAPS Lock each day when I write this blog!
• ATTA (9A: Roti flour) ATTA is a wholemeal wheat flour with a high gluten content. It is used to make flatbreads such as roti, naan, and chapati.
• MARIE CURIE (17A: First person to receive two Nobel Prizes) MARIE CURIE was also the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Additionally, her two Nobel Prizes are in different fields. In 1903, MARIE CURIE shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband, Pierre, and physicist Henri Becquerel, for developing the theory of radioactivity. (Fun fact: MARIE CURIE coined the term radioactivity.) In 1911, MARIE CURIE won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of the elements polonium and radium. 
• PHARAOH (19A: Cleopatra or Tutankhamun, e.g.) PHARAOH is the title used for ancient Egypt monarchs. It is also a word I have difficulty remembering how to spell. (Is it -OAH, or -AOH). OH, PHARAOH, I remember now that your name ends in OH!
• OKRA (26A: Side that might be fried) You know you solve a lot of crosswords when you see this clue, have the starting O already filled in, and type in the answer OREO. HAHA! (37A: "Funny!") Fried oreos are certainly a thing, but I suppose classifying them as a side dish might be a bit of a stretch.
• MSG (30A: Jiaozi additive) Jiaozi are a kind of dumpling consisting of ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped in a thinly rolled piece of dough. Jiaozi may be boiled, steamed, pan-fried, or added to soup. Pan-fried jiaozi are also known as potstickers. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is used in cooking as a flavor enhancer.
• LAKOTA (43A: Crazy Horse's people) Crazy Horse was a LAKOTA leader in the 19th century. He fought against the U.S. federal government to try to stop the encroachment by white American settlers on LAKOTA territory and to preserve the traditional way of life of the LAKOTA people.
• YAM (51A: Vegetable found in the Swahili word for "meat") The Swahili word for "meat" is "nyama."
• ALOHA (2D: Lei Day expression) Lei Day is a statewide celebration in Hawaii on May 1. Lei Day is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and is commonly celebrated by people giving one another gifts of leis. In Hawaiian culture, the lei represents ALOHA, an expression that can be interpreted in various ways - including love, affection, peace, farewell, hope, or joy - depending on the occasion.
• POTATO CHIP (3D: Crunchy bit in a sandwich) If you're wondering what kind of sandwich might taste better with the addition of a crunchy POTATO CHIP, People magazine has ten suggestions for you. 
• OTIS (7D: ___ Spunkmeyer) OTIS Spunkmeyer Inc. is a baked goods distribution company founded by Ken Rawlings, whose 12-year-old daughter suggested the name of the business. 
• MORALE BOOSTER (17A: Something to lift people's spirits) For me, solving the USA Today crossword every morning and writing this blog is definitely a MORALE BOOSTER. I hope that reading the blog brightens your day and lifts your spirits a bit.
• GAGA (32D: Lady who said "Talented, brilliant, incredible...") Lady GAGA said these words about Ryan Murphy in a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. This Lady GAGA quote has inspired memes and appears on posters and t-shirts. Since it's 2020, you can even buy a mask with the words "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique." There's more to the quote. If you'd like to see the entire quote, check out the beginning of the video in this link. 
• SHAY (33D: "Pretty Little Liars" actress Mitchell) SHAY Mitchell plays the role of Emily Fields in the TV series Pretty Little Liars. 

Geography review:

• INCA (28A: Resident of ancient Cuzco) Cuzco (also spelled Cusco) is a city in southeastern Peru. Ancient Cuzco was the administrative, political, and military center of the INCA Empire.
• NOLA (46A: Nickname for Louis Armstrong's birth city) Louis Armstrong was born in  New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4, 1901.
• RIO (48A: ___ de Janeiro) RIO de Janeiro (the city) is the capital of RIO de Janeiro (the state) in Brazil.
• ERIE (64A: Great Lake bordering New York) In addition to New York, Lake ERIE also borders Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. This is the first December appearance of our crossword friend, ERIE.
• IDAHO (5D: Coeur d'Alene's state) Coeur d'Alene is a city in northern IDAHO, and is a satellite city of Spokane, Washington.
• AGRA (20D: City in India's Golden Triangle) India's Golden Triangle tourist circuit consists of AGRA, Delhi, and Jaipur.
• OAHU (34D: Mount Ka'ala's island) Mount Ka'ala is the highest mountain on OAHU.

I liked the theme of today's puzzle. Interestingly, this is the second puzzle this week with a sports term title. We started the week off with Monday's HIDDEN BALL TRICK. The four theme answers were all strong - I particularly enjoyed KEEP A COOL HEAD. I always enjoy seeing MARIE CURIE in puzzles, and FARFETCHED is a fun entry. This puzzle was a delightful way to start my Wednesday morning.