March 13, 2022

Title: SPRING FORWARD

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

FLEA POWDER (17A: Anti-parasite application for a dog)

FILE A PETITION (28A: Apply for legal remedy)

HUMBLE APOLOGY (48A: Expression of sincere regret)

MOBILE APPS (62A: Smartphone downloads)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the word LEAP.

Things I learned:

• EPIC (1D: With 12-Across, work such as "The Mahabharata") and POEM (12A: See 1-Down) The Mahābhārata is considered the longest EPIC POEM ever written. One of two Sanskrit EPIC POEMS, It narrates the struggle between groups of cousins during the Kurukshetra War. The Bhagavad Gita is part of The Mahābhārata. The EPIC POEM has been adapted into a play (that lasted nine hours), a movie, and a TV miniseries.
• ANA (33A: Actress de la Reguera) ANA de la Reguera's acting credits include many telenovelas, the sports comedy series, Eastbound & Down, and the legal drama series, Goliath.
• LEEK (68A: Veggie in zeytinyağlı pırasa) Zeytinyağlı pırasa is a dish in Turkish cuisine also known as LEEKs in olive oil.
• MOCHI (15D: Rice cake in ozoni) Ozōni, a dish associated with the Japanese New Year, is a soup containing MOCHI rice cakes. MOCHI is pounded sticky rice that has been molded into cakes.
• DOUG (36D: Fictional businessman Dimmadome) DOUG Dimmadome is a character from the animated Nickelodeon series, The Fairly OddParents. He has a characteristic Texan drawl, and wears a ridiculously tall 10-gallon hat. One funny thing I learned is that last year when Twitter updated its photo cropping rules, pictures of DOUG Dimmadome and his hat started trending.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SOFT (4A: Like Japanese milk bread) Japanese milk bread has a characteristic SOFT and fluffy texture that is a result of using a tangzhong, or water roux, a paste of flour cooked in water or milk.
• ELLE (69A: InStyle competitor) ELLE and InStyle, are both women's lifestyle and fashion magazines. ELLE has been published since 1945, while InStyle has only been around since 1994. Last month InStyle announced it would cease print publication and become digital-only.
• SPF (4D: Letters on some BB creams) The BB of BB creams stands for Blemish Balm, or Beauty Balm. I learned this from the October 17, 2021 puzzle when CC creams was a theme answer. Some BB creams contain sun protection. 
• OIL (5D: Argan or jojoba) Argan OIL comes from the kernels of a tree that grows in Morocco. Argan OIL has culinary and cosmetic uses. Jojoba OIL is produced from the seed of a shrub native to southern Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. Jojoba OIL is mainly used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.
• BLUE (49D: ___ Bird Flour) BLUE Bird Flour is milled in Cortez, Colorado. It has a high gluten content, and is sold in a cloth sack.

Geography review:

• SUN (22A: Star on Nepal's flag) and YETIS (23A: Creatures in Nepali folklore) A nice consecutive pair of Nepal clues. Nepal is the only country in the world with a non-quadrilateral flag. The flag is a double penant, resembling two stacked triangles. A white SUN and a white crescent moon appear on the red background of the flag. (Fun fact: Until 1962, the sun and moon had human faces.) The flag also features a blue border. In Nepali folklore, YETIS are large, ape-like creatures that live in the Himalayas, Siberia, and Central and East Asia.
• BEL (51A: ___-Air (L.A. neighborhood)) BEL-Air is a residential neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles, California. The TV series, The Fresh Prince of BEL-Air, was set in this neighborhood. Fun fact: Although the show was set in BEL-Air, the exterior shots used in the show were filmed in a different Los Angeles neighborhood.

I am thankful for technology for many reasons, but one reason is that I remember the time before smartphones and such devices, when forgetting about the time change and failing to SPRING FORWARD was a real possibility! Now, many of our devices make the change automatically, which then reminds us to try and remember how to change the clock in our car. This timely puzzle celebrates the change to Daylight Saving Time with not one, but four LEAPs FORWARD. This puzzle played on the challenging side for me today, but that could be because I didn't have as much sleep! In addition to the theme, I enjoyed the long downs of BELLY LAUGH and NOT FOR SALE. This puzzle was a great way to begin my Sunday.

If you are in the mood for another timely puzzle, I co-constructed today's Washington Post puzzle with Mary Lou Guizzo. Thankful to Evan Birnholz for the opportunity to be a guest constructor with a puzzle titled, "Clockwork." After solving, (or if you're not going to solve, which is okay, too!) you may check out Evan's write-up of the puzzle, featuring an interview of Mary Lou and me.