December 9, 2020

Title: BACKREST

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS (17A: "Oh, come on!")

FIRST SERGEANT (37A: Senior noncommissioned officer)

INTERNET SERVICE (60A: What ISPs provide)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the letter string T-S-E-R, spanning two words. If you reverse this letter string - look BACK, so to speak - you will discover the word REST.

Things I learned:

• SALE (1A: Event on Singles' Day) Singles' Day is an unofficial Chinese holiday that celebrates people not in relationships. It is celebrated on November 11, a date chosen because the ones in 11/11 resemble singles. Although it is not an official holiday, many companies have SALEs, and Singles' Day has become the largest shopping day in the world. Interestingly, although the intent of the day is to celebrate those not in relationships, some people celebrate Singles' Day with blind date parties, and some couples choose to get married on the day.
• REN (52A: Ten ___ (tea company)) Ten REN Tea is a Taiwan-based company with stores throughout the world. Ten REN specializes in tea and ginseng products. As a tea drinker, I'm always happy to learn about tea companies. This answer was tricky for me, however, as I was also unsure about the crossing answer of GAYE.
• PAIN (10D: Salonpas target) Salonpas is a brand name of over-the-counter PAIN-relieving products manufactured by the Japanese company, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical. Although the largest market for the products is in Asia, two Salonpas products were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008.
• GAYE (40A: "Ali" actress Nona) In addition to playing the role of Belinda Boyd/Khalilah Ali in the movie, Ali, Nona GAYE also played the role of Zee in the movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Also, since we're in the season when you might rewatch the 2004 movie, The Polar Express, note that Nona GAYE voiced the role of Hero Girl, a girl on the train. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ENERGY (9D: The "E" in Einstein's special relativity equation) The special equation in question is Einstein's famous formula: E=mc² or ENERGY = mass times the (speed of light)².
• CATT (27D: Carrie Chapman ___) Carrie Chapman CATT was a woman's suffragist leader, and campaigned for the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which gave women the right to vote. CATT founded the League of Women Voters in 1920.
• PSA (35A: "Love Has No Labels" ad, e.g.) Love Has No Labels is a movement working to promote acceptance and inclusion of all people. Here is one (of many) Love Has No Labels Public Service Announcements. I appreciate when an answer such as PSA is used to highlight a worthy organization.

Geography review:

• OMAN (65A: Oldest independent state in the Arab world) OMAN is located on the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Muscat.
• LOS (13D: ___ Angeles Sparks) WNBA's LOS Angeles Sparks play at the Staples Center in LOS Angeles, California.
• RIO (19D: Brazil's second-largest city, informally) In 2016, RIO de Janeiro became the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics. We last saw RIO de Janeiro in the crossword a week ago today, in a puzzle also constructed by Zhouqin Burnikel. The largest city in Brazil is Sāo Paulo, and Brazil's capital is Brasilia.
• ATHENS (49A: Capital of Greece) In addition to being its capital, ATHENS is Greece's largest city. ATHENS was the host of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

"YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS!" is a lovely and fun grid-spanning theme answer. I had solved about two-thirds of the puzzle before I caught on to the theme, which elicited an, "Aha - that's clever!" ENORMOUS RED ROSES might result in a smiley EMOTICON. :-) Solving this puzzle was a delightful way to start my Wednesday.