February 2, 2022

Title: RED ENVELOPES

Constructor: Hoang-Kim Vu

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

REWARDS CARD (17A: It offers perks for purchasing)

RICHLY DESERVED (27A: Completely merited)

RESISTANCE BAND (44A: Elastic item for strength training)

ROLLAWAY BED (57A: Portable piece of hotel furniture)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is ENVELOPEd by the letters of the word RED.

Things I learned:

• MONA (6A: ___ Hanna-Attisha, doctor whose research helped expose the Flint water crisis) MONA Hanna-Attisha, commonly referred to as "Dr. MONA," is a pediatrician, professor, author, and public health advocate. After learning from a friend that high levels of lead had been found in homes in Flint, Michigan after the city water supply was switched from the Detroit River to the Flint River, Dr. MONA began researching the blood levels of lead in Flint children. In September 2015, Dr. MONA chose to reveal the results of her research before it was peer-reviewed because of the public health implications. MONA Hanna-Attisha's first-hand account of the Flint Water Crisis, titled What the Eyes Don't See, was published in 2018

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• AIOLI (13A: Sauce for patatas bravas) Patatas bravas, meaning "spicy potatoes" in Spanish, is a dish of cubed potatoes, fried and served warm in a spicy sauce. Patatas bravas with AIOLI sauce is one of my favorite tapas.
• HEBREW (22A: Talmud language) The Talmud is the central text of Judaism. It is written in HEBREW and Aramaic.
• POLIO (26A: Albert Sabin developed a vaccine for it) Albert Sabin developed the oral POLIO vaccine (OPV). The OPV was easier to administer and had longer lasting effects than the earlier POLIO vaccine developed by Jonas Salk. Albert Sabin refused to patent his vaccine, wanting the price to remain low so the vaccine would be widely used. This answer reminded me of a visit my family made to the Smithsonian Museum in 2006 as part of a trip we took to Washington D.C. with my parents. The Smithsonian had a display on POLIO, chronicling its history, treatment, and near eradication. My mom waited outside of the gallery while we went through - the memory of POLIO was too painful for her to revisit as she had lived through it. Although I know people that had POLIO, and remember receiving the "sugar cube" vaccine, I didn't experience POLIO as my mom did. This has me reflecting and hoping that someday there will be a generation that does not have the memories of COVID that those of us living through it do. I'm looking forward to the day when the COVID pandemic is the subject of a museum display. (Realizing we will likely never eradicate COVID to the extent POLIO has been.)
• RAE (33A: "Insecure" star Issa) The HBO TV series, Insecure, is partially based on Issa RAE's web series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. On Insecure, which takes a look at the experiences of contemporary Black women, Issa RAE plays the role of Issa Dee.
• ASTON (65A: Word before "Villa" or "Martin") ASTON Villa is a professional football club based in ASTON, Birmingham in England. (The football which is known as soccer in the United States.) ASTON Martin is a British company that manufactures luxury sports cars. 
• CARB (1D: "Is butter a ___?" (Mean Girls" quote)) This is a fun way to clue CARB. In a scene from the 2004 movie, Mean Girls, "mean girl" Regina George (Rachel McAdams) asks, "Is butter a CARB?" and Cady (Lindsay Lohan) answers, "Yes." Butter is, of course, not a CARB, being 100% fat, and if you've spent any time overthinking this Mean Girls' scene, here's an article to let you know you're not alone.
• SIR (5D: Title for a Knight Grand Cross) Knight Grand Cross is the highest class attainable in the Order of the British Empire. This class entitles its members to use the address of SIR before their names.
• NDA (8D: Document signed to protect secrets (Abbr.) I'd like you to sign a non-disclosure agreement before I tell you what NDA means.
• ADELE (15D: "Easy on Me" singer) "Easy on Me," is a single from ADELE's 2021 album, 30. The song's lyrics are a plea to ADELE's son to be kind to her after her divorce.
• BIRD (23D: Eagle or albatross) If you are a BIRD watcher, I recommend following Cornell Lab Bird Cams on Instagram. I recently learned that conservationists in New Zealand replace a Royal Albatross's egg with a dummy egg when it starts to hatch, in order to protect the albatross chick. They've also posted a video of an albatross chick in the process of hatching. Science is fascinating.
• REESE (27D: Hello Sunshine founder Witherspoon) Hello Sunshine, a media company founded by REESE Witherspoon in 2016, aims to put women at the center of the stories it creates.
• CEDARS (46A: Lebanese trees) I have previously written about the CEDARS of Lebanon.
• PEAT (49D: Ending for "re-" or "three-") This reminded me of the classic kids' joke: "Pete and rePEAT were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left?" "RePEAT." "Pete and rePEAT..."
• OLEG (51D: Name found in "whole grain") and LEG (58D: Part of a journey or a table) As I was reviewing the puzzle, I initially marked these two entries because I like these clues. Then I realized OLEG and LEG are adjacent at the bottom of the grid, nicely giving this puzzle two LEGs to stand on...

Geography review:

• INDIA (14A: Lucknow's country) Utter Pradesh is a state in northern INDIA. Lucknow is the capital of Utter Pradesh.
• SAN (37A: ___ Diego) SAN Diego is on the Pacific coast of California, in the southern part of the state near the California-Mexico border.
• IOWA (3D: Meskwaki Nation's state) The Meskwaki Nation, also known as "People of the Red Earth," is a settlement of the Sac & Fox Tribe located in Tama, IOWA.

Zhouqin Burnikel kicked off the celebration of the Spring Festival yesterday with YEAR OF THE TIGER, and Hoang-Kim Vu keeps the festivities going with RED ENVELOPES. Part of the Lunar New Year tradition is to give gifts of money in RED ENVELOPES. In Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) celebrations, RED ENVELOPES are known as lì xì. The color RED symbolizes good luck and prosperity. In our RED ENVELOPES we find, not money, but a nice set of theme answers. My favorite theme answer was RICHLY DESERVED. In addition to the theme, I like SAYS YES, IN RESPONSE, and IMPROVES ON. This puzzle was a great way to begin my Wednesday.