December 3, 2021

Title: UP YOUR GAME

Constructor: Matthew Stock

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

ESSENCE MAGAZINE (3D: Publication "where Black girl magic comes alive")

FRIDGE MAGNETS (7D: They might hold up grocery lists)

SAY THE MAGIC WORD (11D: Phrase to which a toddler might reply "pleeease")

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the letter string E-M-A-G, which is the word GAME reading backwards, or reading UP in this case, since the theme answers are vertical.

And now a word from our constructor: 

Matthew: This set of 15/13/15 could have worked just fine with standard rotational symmetry. I've enjoyed leaning into USA Today's (a)symmetry flexibility, however, and I find the resulting layout here really beautiful! I enjoy all three themers as standalone entries, and I'm proud of how the larger SW, NE and SE corners came together. Thanks to Amanda and Erik for their patience while I got those regions just right, and for keeping a lot of my favorite clues, including 44A, 53A, and 11D. Hope you enjoyed solving!

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• MAYAN (19A: ___ calendar (ancient timekeeping system)) The MAYAN calendar (also referred to as the Maya calendar) dates back to at least the fifth century BCE. The MAYAN calendar is a calendar round, consisting of three cycles: the Long Count, the Tzolkin, and the Haab. Each cycle contained a different number of days, and it took 52 years for the cycles to line up in the same way. This article provides an in-depth look at the MAYAN calendar if you're interested in learning more. The MAYAN calendar received a lot of attention in 2012, as some groups used it to predict that the world would be ending. Such claims were dismissed by scientists and MAYAN scholars. (Also, I'm writing this in 2021, so apparently the world is still here.)
• NBA (25A: Toronto Raptors' org.) We saw NBA's Toronto Raptors in the puzzle just yesterday. Occurrences such as this are the reward for solving the puzzle every day.
• IGBO (26A: Nigerian people) The IGBO people are indigenous to several states in Nigeria. Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea also have IGBO communities.
• SHIA (39A: Branch of Islam) The two main branches of Islam are SHIA and Sunni. This History article gives an overview of how the two branches of Islam arose.
• ZEN (55A: Buddhist denomination) ZEN is a class of Buddhism that arose in China during the Tang Dynasty. ZEN teachers use stories called kōans (that I've written about previously) to help students discover the idea of nonduality.
• OH LORD (61A: "Goodness gracious") and OH GOSH (48D: "Good heavens!") The lower right corner of the puzzle appears a bit overwhelmed with these two crossing exclamations!
• ESSENCE MAGAZINE (3D: Publication "where Black girl magic comes alive") Since 1970, ESSENCE MAGAZINE's monthly issues have covered fashion, beauty, entertainment, and culture in articles written for Black women readers. 
• FRIDGE MAGNETS (7D: They might hold up grocery lists) I thought I had written about FRIDGE MAGNETS before, but I didn't remember seeing this particular answer previously. Turns out I was correct on both counts. Last year in December, (in a puzzle constructed by Matthew Stock and Brooke Husic) we saw the answer MAGNET clued as [Fridge decoration]. At the time, I promised to share a photo of my Princess Bride FRIDGE MAGNETS if a Princess Bride clue appeared in the puzzle. That offer still stands.
• LASSI (21D: Blended yogurt drink) LASSI is a blend of yogurt, water, and spices. It is associated with the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent.
• SOCA (43D: Music genre known as "The Soul of Calypso") I learned about SOCA music, invented by Trinidadian musician, Lord Shorty, from the October 20, 2021 puzzle. 
• FIERCE (50D: "I Am Sasha ___") I Am...Sasha FIERCE is the title of Beyoncé's third studio album, released in 2008. 

Geography review:

• MAI (60D: Chiang ___, Thailand) The city of Chiang MAI is the capital of the Chiang MAI province in Thailand. "Chiang MAI" means "New City" in Thai.

Did you need to UP YOUR GAME to solve today's puzzle? A delightful set of theme answers today. I initially wanted "what's" in place of "SAY" in SAY THE MAGIC WORD, but as that didn't fit, I easily figured out the correct phrasing. Enjoyable cluing all around. I particularly enjoyed the clues for TSA (24A: Org. that allows you to check, but not carry on, a Magic 8 Ball) and ECHO (53A: What this clue does...does...does...). As Matthew mentioned in his notes, the grid is asymmetrical. The repeated shapes of black squares (sometimes flipped) are an interesting visual. The blocks on each side and the bottom of the puzzle are sometimes referred to as "Utah" shapes or blocks. That had me trying to come up with a name for the shapes in the middle of the puzzle. An "open Bic lighter" was all that came to mind. I'd like to hear your ideas on a name for this shape! This puzzle was a great way to begin my Friday.