January 30, 2022

Title: TBS

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editors: Mollie Cowger & Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

TAKEN BY SURPRISE (15A: Caught unawares)

THAT BEING SAID (30A: "Even so..."

T-BONE STEAKS (52A: Pricey beef cut)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is a three-part phrase with the initials TBS.

Things I learned:

• UNI (43A: Sushi delicacy) The edible part of sea urchins, known as UNI, is a delicacy harvested from the wild, and often hand-cut by professional scuba divers.
• DART (8D: Projectile thrown by Fallon Sherrock) Fallon Sherrock is a professional DARTs player. Her nickname is the "Queen of the Palace," earned at the Alexandra Palace, a sports venue where, in 2019, she became the first woman to win two consecutive matches at the Professional Darts Corporation World Championships. At the Grand Slam of DARTs in 2021, she became the first woman to reach the quarter-finals. 
• OBOE (27D: Alex Klein's instrument) Alex Klein is the principal OBOE of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been the principal OBOE for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NGOS (39A: BRAC and Mercy Corps, e.g. (Abbr.)) NGO stands for non-governmental organization. BRAC  (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) is the world's largest NGO. BRAC employs over 90,000 people, and is active in 12 countries, working to "empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease and social justice." The NGO, Mercy Corps, is a humanitarian aid organization working in 38 countries to "create a future where everyone can prosper." Although many NGOS are non-profit organizations like BRAC and Mercy Corps, this is not always the case.
• LOBO (56A: Basketball great Rebecca) Former WNBA player Rebecca LOBO played for the New York Liberty, Houston Comets, and Connecticut Sun. Rebecca LOBO is now a sports reporter for ESPN.
• UNITY (9D: First principle of Kwanzaa) Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture observed from December 26 to January 1. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are UNITY, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
• WTA (12D: Org. for Ashleigh Barty) This clue and answer is an illustration of how solving crosswords and writing a blog about crosswords has changed the way I interact with the world. Unless this is the first time you're reading Sally's Take (and if so, "Welcome! I'm glad you're here.") you've probably picked up on the fact that I don't follow sports. However, this morning just before solving this puzzle, I happened to see in the New York Times weekend briefing that Ashleigh Barty won the Australian Open, becoming the first Australian to win it since 1978. And I thought to myself, "I need to remember the name Ashleigh Barty, because I'm probably going to see her in a puzzle soon." Well, that didn't take long! Ashleigh Barty is currently the top-ranked singles player in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
• MAN (29D: Stupendous ___ ("Calvin and Hobbes" superhero)) In the comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes, mischievous six-year-old Calvin and his tiger companion have many adventures. Calvin has several alter-egos, including Stupendous MAN (who is almost always defeated), Tracer Bullet, and Spaceman Spiff.
• TAPAS (30D: Croquetas and ensaladilla rusa, e.g.) TAPAS, popular in Spanish cuisine, are a variety of appetizers or snacks. Croquetas are a type of filled fried dumpling. Ensaladilla rusa, whose name means "little Russian salad," is made of boiled vegetables, tuna, olives, and mayonnaise. 
• LEGO (42D: Toy brand with a Statue of Liberty set) The LEGO Statue of Liberty set has over 1,600 pieces, and when completed is over 17 inches tall. Not all LEGO sets are available for purchase. Some sets are designed for a specific purpose, such as the MRI Scanner set that LEGO designed and is providing to hospitals to help prepare children for the experience of having an MRI. I first learned about these sets from my daughter, who is a Child Life Specialist at a children's hospital in Chicago. She sent me a photo of the kits they had received, and then a few days later I began to see news stories about this extremely cool project. Way to go LEGO.
• SOY (61D: Abura-age ingredient) Abura-age is made of SOYbeans that are twice-fried. Thin slices of tofu are first fried at a low temperature, and then again at a higher temperature. Abura-age is often added to miso soup.

Geography review:

• ASIAGO (49A: Cheese whose name starts with a continent) No, this answer doesn't really belong in the "Geography review" section, but I thought it was a fun clue. ASIAGO cheese is named for the area of Italy in which it originated. Italy is, of course, in Europe, not Asia. ASIAGO cheese is still made in Italy, but also in other places, including Australia and the United States (neither of which are in Asia). 
• OHIO (62A: Its state flag features a white circular O) That white circular O appears on the only non-rectangular U.S. flag. OHIO has a triangular swallowtail flag that uses the colors red, white, and blue.
• ETNA (53D: Volcano in Sicily) The Italian island of Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is home to Mount ETNA, one of the world's most active volcanoes. Its eruptions in 2021 added about 100 feet to its height.

I hope you weren't TAKEN BY SURPRISE by today's theme. TBS stands for the Turner Broadcasting System, but also the Taipei Broadcasting System, the Tokyo Broadcasting System, and the Traffic Broadcasting System (in South Korea). Also, appropriately given the day, TBS can also stand for the rock band, Taking Back Sunday. My favorite part of today's puzzle was the conversation string in the quotation clues:

"WHO said that?"

"ARE you serious?"

"YAY! (25A: "That's so great!")

"THAT BEING SAID..." (30A: "Even so...")

"That's a NO NO."

"I GUESS NOT." (35D: "...never mind then")

"TATA! (37A: "See ya!")

And then... 

"AHA!" (47A: "I get it now!") 

"OHO!" (57D: "Well, looky here!")

This puzzle was a great way to begin my Sunday. TATA!