December 12, 2021

Title: MEDLEY RACE

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

GOD'S LITTLE ACRE (20A: Erskine Caldwell novel set on a Georgia farm)

MICHAEL CERA (37A: Actor and musician who played Paulie Bleeker in "Juno")

WHY SHOULD I CARE (56A: So what?)

Theme synopsis: The last word of each theme answer is an anagram of the word RACE: ACRE, CERA, and CARE.

Things I learned:

• CREE (16A: "Peyakow: Reclaiming ___ Dignity") Published in August of this year, Peyakow: Reclaiming CREE Dignity is the second memoir of Darrel J. McLeod. The book reflects on McLeod's work as a school principal, a federal treaty negotiator for Indian and Northern Affairs in Canada, and executive director of the Assembly of First Nations. The book also contains anecdotes about his personal life as a queer, CREE man dealing with trauma and loss. Although it was taped before Peyakow: Reclaiming CREE Dignity was released, I enjoyed listening to Darrel J. McLeod speak in this short video about "What Matters Most."
• ARM (26A: Place to wear a Bajuband) Bajuband is a bracelet worn on the upper ARM. It is a traditional piece of Indian jewelry often worn by brides and dancers.
• MAORI (34A: Like taonga puoro) The traditional musical instruments of the MAORI people of New Zealand are known collectively as taonga pūoro. The name "taonga pūoro" means "singing treasures." The instruments make sounds that imitate the Earth's rhythm.
• POET (7D: Gwen Nell Westerman, for one) As of September of this year, Gwen Nell Westerman is the POET laureate of Minnesota.
• IDA (40D: Zydeco star Queen ___) Zydeco is a music genre that evolved in Louisiana and blends elements of blues, R&B, and music of the Louisiana Creole people and indigenous people of Louisiana. Grammy Award winner Queen IDA was the first female accordionist to lead a zydeco band. Queen IDA has also co-authored a cookbook of Creole recipes, Cookin' with Queen IDA.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NAOMI (14A: Osaka known for her serves) NAOMI Osaka's serve has been clocked at a mind-boggling (at least to me!) 125 miles per hour.
• UKES (17A: "Aloha Oe" instruments, for short) I have previously written about the popular Hawaiian song, "Aloha 'Oe." 
• GOD'S LITTLE ACRE (20A: Erskine Caldwell novel set on a Georgia farm) Erskine Caldwell's 1933 novel, GOD'S LITTLE ACRE tells the story of a farming family living in Georgia. The book was controversial when first published due to its sexual themes. GOD'S LITTLE ACRE was made into a movie of the same name in 1958.
• KOHL'S (36A: Retail giant founded in Milwaukee) KOHL'S was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl. The store is one of the largest department store chains in the United States.
• MICHAEL CERA (37A: Actor and musician who played Paulie Bleeker in "Juno") I saw Juno when it was released in 2007. The coming-of-age film stars Elliot Page as the title character who is pregnant. The baby's father is Juno's longtime friend, Paulie, played by MICHAEL CERA. Even though I've seen the movie, I am not good at remembering the names of actors. Therefore, I needed crossing answers to refresh my memory.
• HYGIENE (42A: Handwashing, flossing, etc.) I had "routine" at first, which fit nicely, but didn't play well with some of the crossing answers.
• EMMA (61A: Actress Watson) In addition to her successful acting career, EMMA Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014 and helped launch the HeForShe campaign advocating for gender equality.
• SLEDGE (3D: Sister ___ ("We Are Family" singers)) "We Are Family" was released in 1979 and became Sister SLEDGE's signature song. 
• SRIRACHA (10D: Huy Fong Foods product) Huy Fong Foods is a hot sauce company founded by David Tran and based in California. Huy Fong's SRIRACHA sauce features a rooster on its label, leading it to sometimes be referred to as rooster sauce. The most difficult part of this answer for me was remembering how to spell SRIRACHA!

Geography review:

• OSLO (13A: Norwegian Nobel Institute city) Today is the third day in a row for OSLO to make a puzzle appearance. Yesterday I mentioned that OSLO has been home to the Nobel Peace Center since 2005. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has been in OSLO quite a bit longer, having been established in 1904 when OSLO was known as Kristiania. The Institute assists the Nobel Committee in selecting the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• LIMA (60A: Peru's "Ciudad de los Reyes") LIMA is the capital of Peru and its largest city. One of LIMA's nicknames, "Ciudad de los Reyes," means "City of the Kings." LIMA was founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes because it was founded on Epiphany, the Christian feast day also known as Three Kings' Day. LIMA soon became the preferred name of the city.
• DIEGO (31D: The D in SDSU) San DIEGO State University (SDSU) is a public research university founded in 1897. SDSU is a space-grant college - one of a network of institutions working together on outer-space related research.

Our puzzle today features a MEDLEY of anagrams. This puzzle, featuring an asymmetrical grid, was a good way to begin my Sunday.