September 11, 2021

Title: PLAYING AROUND

Constructor: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

DUCK DUCK GOOSE (20A: Game with taps on the head)

SPIN THE BOTTLE (38A: Game where pairs lock lips)

MUSICAL CHAIRS (57A: Game where the loser is left standing)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is a game where those PLAYING the game are in a circle (AROUND).

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CARP (1A: Gefilte fish ingredient) Gefilte fish is made from a mixture of ground deboned fish. A mixture of fish such as CARP, whitefish, and pike, is often used, and mixed with seasonings, onion, egg, and bread. Traditionally made by stuffing the mixture into an intact fish skin for cooking, gefilte fish is now more commonly made as patties or fish balls. Gefilte fish originated as a dish prepared ahead of time to be eaten on the Jewish Sabbath, when cooking and picking the bones out of fish is not allowed. If you'd like to know more, the website "My Jewish Learning" has an informative article on the history of gefilte fish in America. 
• RACE (16A: "So You Want to Talk About ___") Published in 2018, Ijeoma Oluo's debut book, So You Want to Talk About RACE, received renewed interest in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd. Each chapter title is a question about RACE in America. Oluo offers her opinion on, as well as advice about how to talk about, topics that include affirmative actions, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, micro-aggression, police brutality, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Ijeoma Oluo is also the author of the 2020 book, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America. 
• TAN (47A: France of "Queer Eye") TAN France is the fashion expert on the TV series, Queer Eye. He also hosts the Netflix series, Dressing Funny, and co-hosts the Netflix design competition, Next in Fashion. If you're looking for something to listen to today, I recommend NPR's Ask Me Another podcast from February 7, 2020 when TAN France was the featured guest. (And meanwhile I will try not to be sad that Ask Me Another, one of my favorite podcasts, is ending in a few weeks...)
• RESCUE (3D: Pet from a shelter) Our cat, Willow, is a RESCUE.
  
  Perhaps that's why she has an optimistic outlook and sees the pitcher as half full.
• ACLU (5D: Org. with a Women's Rights Project) As you might expect, ACLU's Women's Rights Project "pushes for change and systemic reform in institutions that perpetuate discrimination against women." The Women's Rights Project was co-founded in 1972 by Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Brenda Feigen. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg put it, "Women's rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda, trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy."
• OF AGE (8D: Old enough to buy CBD, say) Generally that AGE is 18, though in some states the AGE requirement is 21. (And in a few states, the purchase of CBD is still illegal.)
• RED (13D: Color of a black widow's hourglass) Black widow spiders have potent venom that can cause pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating in their victims. Although it is only the bites of females that are dangerous to humans, if you see a black spider with RED markings, I wouldn't recommend taking the time to determine whether the spider is a male or female! If you are inclined to do so, however, it's the female spiders that have the RED hourglass markings. Male widow spiders tend to have a single RED stripe, or RED spots. 
• ONO (27D: Artist Yoko) One of Yoko ONO's interactive art pieces is the Wish Tree. These art pieces have been installed in a variety of places including the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Visitors are invited to write their wishes on small pieces of paper and attach them to the Wish Tree. 
• RIDE (34D: Space Mountain, e.g.) Five of the six Disney-land style theme parks have a RIDE called Space Mountain. The only park without a Space Mountain RIDE is the Shanghaie Disneyland Park. The original Space Mountain RIDE opened in 1975 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
• LEE (42D: Author Min Jin ___) Min Jin LEE is the author of Free Food for Millionaires (2007) and Pachinko (2017). I learned about Min Jin LEE from the October 6, 2020 puzzle. 
• ARIANA (48D: "thank u, next" singer Grande) ARIANA Grande's song, "thank u, next" was released in 2018, and is the lead single from the album of the same name. 
• HORROR (49D: Betrayal at House on the Hill genre) Betrayal at House on the Hill is a board game in which players explore a haunted house. 
• UNDO (58D: Ctrl-Z command) As I mentioned last Saturday, UNDO is my favorite computer command!

Geography review: 

• USSR (17A: Cold War country) From 1922 to 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR was governed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. 
• SERB (24A: Belgrade citizen) Belgrade is the capital of SERBia.
• CIUDAD (1D: ___ de Mexico (capital abbreviated as CDMX)) CIUDAD de Mexico, or CDMX, or Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico.
• BEL (35D: ___-Air (L.A. neighborhood)) BEL-Air is a neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles, California.

First of all, although there's a glitch in the USA Today crossword app, and the constructor's name is omitted, I have it on good authority that Enrique Henestroza Anguiano constructed this enjoyable puzzle! It's fun to see a theme where the entire theme answer is involved in the theme, instead of just a part of the answer. This puzzle felt like a walk down memory lane, as it's been some time since I've played any of these games. This puzzle was a great way to begin my Saturday.