April 4, 2021

Title: FOUR

Constructor: FOUR (Zhouqin Burnikel)

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

CUDDLE BUDDY (17A: Friend to snuggle up with)

FIDDLED AROUND (27A: Wasted time)

PAID DIVIDENDS (48A: Produced good results over time)

ODDS AND ENDS (64A: Miscellaneous bits)

Theme synopsis: Today, April 4 (or 4-4), the puzzle has FOUR theme answers, each with FOUR occurrences of the letter D, which is the FOURth letter of the alphabet. In other words, FOUR by FOUR. 

Things I learned:

• EMIR (41A: ___ Abdelkader (leader in Algerian history)) EMIR Abdelkader was an Islamic scholar who led Algerians in resisting French colonial invasion in the mid-1800s. He was admired within Algeria and throughout Europe for his values and compassion. He considered Islam, Judaism, and Christianity to be similar, and viewed all of their practitioners as brothers. The small town of Elkader, Iowa was named for EMIR Abdelkader. 
• ONO (47A: Fenty Beauty makeup artist Priscilla) Fenty Beauty is a cosmetics brand that includes extensive shade offerings to be inclusive across a range of skin tones. The brand was launched by singer, Rihanna. I learned this information from the July 23, 2020 puzzle. Today I learned about Priscilla ONO, celebrity makeup artist, and global makeup artist for Fenty Beauty. She was chosen from 3,000 makeup artists who tried out for the position. 
• LOGAN (67A: "Dear White People" star Browning) Dear White People is a Netflix series adapted from a 2014 movie of the same name. Both the movie and TV series focus on the experiences of Black students at a fictional Ivy League institution. In the TV series, LOGAN Browning plays the role of Samantha White, a college student trying to wake people up to social issues.
• GUS (26D: Shawn's best friend on "Psych") Psych is a TV series starring James Rodney as Shawn Spencer, a crime consultant whose observational skills allow him to convince people he solves cases with psychic abilities. GUS, played by Dulé Hill, is Shawn's best friend and business partner.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• BLINI (14A: Pancakes known as mlyntsi in Ukraine) BLINI are thin pancakes made from wheat flour. They are popular in Ukraine, where they are known as mlyntsi, and have been eaten there since pre-Christian times. They are often served with sour cream and caviar.
• EAR (23A: Playing it by ___) Playing it by EAR is a saying I associate with my dad. "We'll just have to play it by EAR," he would say. Easter Sunday was my dad's favorite day, so it's fitting that the puzzle reminds me of him today.
• SAG (39A: ___ Awards (Hollywood accolades)) The Screen Actors Guild Awards, or SAG Awards, are given to recognize outstanding performances in film and television. The first SAG Awards were given in 1995. The actual award is a statue of a nude male figure holding a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy.
• AIDY (3D: "Danger & Eggs" voice actress Bryant) Danger & Eggs is an Amazon TV series following the adventures of a teal-haired girl named D.D. Danger - voiced by AIDY Bryant - and her best friend, an anthropomorphic egg named Phillip. 
• INDEED (4D: "Absolutely!") Over the last few years, INDEED has become one of my favorite words. I find it to be useful. It's meaning can be varied according to tone of voice, ranging from querulous (INDEED?) to emphatic (INDEED!) to sarcastic (INDEED - the equivalent of the Southern expression, "Bless your heart.")
• DILL PICKLE (29D: Sandwich accompaniment) I really enjoy the DILL PICKLE that seems to accompany any sandwich ordered in a restaurant. I will happily eat not only mine, but those my dining companions do not want. Have you ever wondered why your sandwich comes with a pickle? You're not alone, apparently, and Dylan Lehotsky wrote an article on the subject for Mental Floss. 

Geography review:

• RACE (55A: Twin Cities Marathon, for example) and GOV (40D: www.mn.___) A pair of Minnesota clues today. The Twin Cities Marathon is a RACE held annually, usually the first weekend in October, in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota. The website for the state of Minnesota is found at www.mn.GOV. 
• FUJI (27D: Japan's tallest mountain) Mount FUJI is located on the island of Honshū, the main island of Japan. Mount FUJI is an active volcano that last erupted in 1708. It's height is 12,389 feet.
• IDA (46D: ___ B. Wells Plaza) The IDA B. Wells Plaza will be unveiled on July 16 (the birthday of journalist and activist IDA B. Wells) in Memphis, Tennessee. 
• EUGENE (51D: First name that's also a city in Oregon) EUGENE, Oregon is the home of the University of Oregon and Bushnell University.
• HANOI (53D: Capital home to the Temple of Literature) The Temple of Literature in HANOI, Vietnam is a temple dedicated to Confucius. Built in 1070, it is located to the south of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and hosts the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university.

This puzzle is an absolute joy! I kept discovering additional layers of the theme, which was fun. When I opened the USA Today puzzle app, and saw "Title: FOUR, Creator: FOUR," I thought that must surely be a mistake. Then I printed the puzzle, which lists the title and constructor in a different format: "FOUR By FOUR." Aha - that's clever! Before I even got to the first theme answer, I enjoyed the bonuses of ACT IV (6A: Fourth section of a play) and SRS (11A: Fourth-year students (Abbr.)) Appropriately, the first theme answer I entered was the fourth one,  ODDS AND ENDS. At that point I wondered if the theme would be answers containing four appearances of different letters (A-B-C-D). When I uncovered CUDDLE BUDDY (my favorite theme answer!) it dawned on me that D is the fourth letter of the alphabet. I had the thought that this would have been a fun puzzle to run on April 1 (April Fool's Day), and that's when I remembered today is 4-4. Lovely. This puzzle was a truly delightful way to begin my Easter Sunday! Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

So who is our mystery constructor of this enjoyable puzzle? I don't have any inside information. My first guess is Erik Agard, as Erik is so good at building in the multiple layers of theme. My next guess would be Paolo Pasco, whose creative puzzles consistently amaze and delight me. What's your guess about FOUR's identity?

Edited to add: See Erik's note below explaining that this creative reinterpretation of the title was a computer software error. That is even more delightful, honestly! I've decided to leave this write-up as originally posted, though I have given Zhouqin credit above. I should have guessed that since it was Sunday this was one of Zhouqin's amazing puzzles!