January 26, 2021

Title: MAKE ENDS MEET

Constructors: Alina Abidi & Brooke Husic

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

HOME SWEET HOME (20A: Doormat saying)

TIME AFTER TIME (39A: Cyndi Lauper hit)

SORRY NOT SORRY (59A: "Deal with it")

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is a phrase in which the ENDS (the first and last words) are the same.

And now a word from our constructors:

Alina: I love this puzzle! The USAT puzzle (always, but especially when authored by Brooke) is such a great source of clues that are fun and interesting for experienced solvers, but still approachable for new solvers, and I think we accomplished that with today's puzzle!
Brooke's clue for NEMO, [Common pet fish name since 2003], is so charming to me — it makes perfect sense when you see it, and you can totally picture a bunch of kids buying clownfish, but it's not at all an obvious (to me) way to clue the word.
I was happy to clue URDU as [Language of Ghalib's poetry], because my parents are big Ghalib fans (I am too, but I miss all the double-meanings and misdirection until my dad patiently explains it all in English). URDU actually comes up a lot in puzzles (because it's short, and half vowels) but it's usually just clued as [Language of Pakistan], so it was nice to clue it in a more colorful and personal angle, rather than in the definitional way that's sometimes more standard for foreign words.
Brooke: This is hands down one of my favorite grids I've been a part of making, and I'm privileged/honored to collaborate with Alina, who came up with the theme. I love all of our theme entries *and* all four of our long down "bonuses". I am very much inspired by how much personality Alina conveys in her clues: I love OR NOT [Backpedaling words] and OH NO [Words after a gulp, maybe]—super evocative clues for such tiny phrases! And +1 to everything Alina said about URDU; I was so glad to learn this from/about her!!

Things I learned:

• EMMA (25A: Painter Amos) EMMA Amos was a printmaker as well as a painter. Her works are brightly colored, and often have subjects relating to racial and feminist politics. Among Amos's paintings are several self-portraits, including one titled, "Tightrope," in which she is wearing a Wonder Woman suit under her painter's smock while balancing on a tightrope, holding paintbrushes in one hand and a shirt with an image copied from one of Paul Gauguin's paintings in the other. EMMA Amos died last year at the age of 83. A career retrospective is scheduled to open at the Georgia Museum of Art in 2021, and will be called "EMMA Amos: Color Odyssey."
• URDU (Language of Ghalib's poetry) Ghalib was an Indian poet who wrote in URDU and Persian. Ghalib, who lived from 1797 to 1869, is considered one of the five major poets of URDU. I appreciated reading Alina's notes about this clue. One of the things I enjoy about crossword puzzles is that each constructor brings their own personality and background to the process. Puzzles are an enjoyable way to learn new things!
• ANN (2D: "The Street" author Petry) The Street, published in 1946, was ANN Petry's debut novel, and became the first novel by a Black woman to sell more than a million copies. The Street tells the story of Lutie Johnson, a single Black mother living in Harlem during World War II. The book portrays the racism, sexism, and classism Lutie faces. 
• ELLEN (12D: Journalist Nakashima) ELLEN Nakashima covers national security for the Washington Post, including cybersecurity counterterrorism and intelligence issues. She and her colleagues won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2018 for their coverage of Russian efforts to influence the outcome of the 2016 election. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ASADA (23A: Carne ___) Carne ASADA refers to barbecued or grilled meat, usually beef. This answer may seem familiar, as we saw ASADA in yesterday's puzzle.
• SARI (31A: Shaadi garment) Shaadi is a term for Indian or Pakistani weddings.
• TIME AFTER TIME (39A: Cyndi Lauper hit) "TIME AFTER TIME" was released in 1984, when I was a college freshman. It's the second single from Cyndi Lauper's debut album, She's So Unusual. The first single from that album was "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."  
• ADELE (57A: Singer with albums name for her age) So far ADELE has albums titled 19, 21, and 25. ADELE is one of the artists in my imaginary concert of "Crossword-Friendly One-Named Singers."
• DOLMA (14D: Stuffed vegetable dish) The word DOLMA is of Turkish origin from a word meaning "to fill." DOLMA is a traditional part of Middle Eastern cuisine. Vegetables that are stuffed to make DOLMA include tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. 
• THE MATRIX (15D: Famous trans allegory in film) Lana and Lilly Wachowski directed the 1999 movie, The Matrix. Last year, Lilly Wachowski spoke about The Matrix as a trans allegory.
• EBONY (40D: Magazine with a Power 100 list) In 1971, EBONY published a "Most Influential Black Americans List." That list has evolved into an annual "Power 100" list.
• ARE (66D: "___ You Happy Now?" (Michelle Branch song)) The 2003 song, "ARE You Happy Now" was the lead single from the Michelle Branch album, Hotel Paper. 
• RED (67D: Colorful Taylor Swift album title) Released in 2012, RED was Taylor Swift's fourth studio album. It includes the songs "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," and "I Knew You Were Trouble." This puzzle has Cyndi Lauper, ADELE, Michelle Branch, and Taylor Swift!

Geography review:

• NOVA (45A: ___ Scotia) The Canadian province NOVA Scotia includes the NOVA Scotia peninsula, Cape Breton Island, and Sable Island. Wherever you are in NOVA Scotia, you are always less than 42 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of NOVA Scotia is Halifax.

I enjoyed the theme of this puzzle, with its repetitive theme answers. My favorite theme answer is SORRY NOT SORRY - so much SASS! Many delightful clues today, including the clues for NEMO [Common pet fish name since 2003] and EVIL [Descriptor for geniuses or grins]. I enjoyed the answers SO THAT'S IT and STAY TUNED. This puzzle was a delightful way to start my Tuesday.