May 21, 2022

Title: KEEP QUIET

Constructor: Matthew Stock

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

RUSH HOUR (16A: Traffic time to drive)

SPANISH HARLEM (27A: New York neighborhood also called "El Barrio")

ROSH HASHANAH (45A: Jewish New Year)

SMASH HIT (61A: Chart-topper)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is telling us to KEEP QUIET with the letter string SHH. In other words, SHH, representing QUIET, is kept within each theme answer.

Things I learned:

• DAHI (38D: Yogurt in lassi) DAHI is a yogurt product that originated from the Indian subcontinent. Lassi is a blend of DAHI, water, and spices. Fruit is sometimes added. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• WEASEL (15A: The "Duke of Bootleg" in "Zootopia," e.g.) In the 2016 animated movie, Zootopia, the character Duke Weaselton is voiced by Alan Tudyk. The WEASEL is known as the "Duke of Bootleg" because he sells pirated DVDs. Fun fact: The name of Duke Weaselton is a nod to the character the Duke of Weselton, which Alan Tudyk voices in the movie, Frozen. Another fun fact: Alan Tudyk has voiced a role in every Disney animated movie since Wreck-It Ralph (2012).
• FOUR (20A: Number of Olympic gold medals for Tamika Catchings) Tamika Catchings is a retired professional basketball player. Last month I learned about Tamika Catchings and that she was selected for ten WNBA All-Star teams. In that write up I mentioned she was a part of FOUR USA teams that won Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016).
• SPANISH HARLEM (27A: New York neighborhood also called "El Barrio") SPANISH HARLEM is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. In SPANISH, "El Barrio" means "the neighborhood." 
• DINNERS (38A: Evening meals) Fortunately, I already had the N from ION (28D: H+ or Cl-) when I encountered this clue. Otherwise, I would have filled in "suppers" as the answer. I have always referred to my evening meals as suppers, only eating DINNERS on holidays, and sometimes on Sundays at lunchtime. The DINNERS vs. suppers usage appears to be somewhat of a regional thing. Here's another explanation of the difference between DINNERS and suppers, denoting dinner as meaning the main meal of the day. All this is to say that ION saved me from a bit of confusion!
• ANO (5D: "Feliz ___ novo!") "Feliz ANO novo!" is Portugese for "Happy New Year!" 
• PATTERN (9D: Argyle or paisley) I had a funny interaction with this clue, as my first thought when I read it was "herb." I believe my brain originally read the clue as "Arugula or parsley." (I know...arugula isn't even an herb.) Anyway, the second time I read the clue, all became as clear as an argyle or paisley PATTERN.
• ANTIRACIST (24D: "How to Be an ____" (2019 bestseller)) How to Be an ANTIRACIST was written by Ibram X. Kendi. Each chapter of the book examines a different theme (such as power, biology, culture, behavior, etc.) through through a racial lens.
• ASMR (33D: Tingle-inducing video genre (Abbr.)) I have previously written about ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response).
• BAHAI (50D: Religion represented by a nine-pointed star) The BAHÁ'Í faith was established in the 1800s by Bahá'u'lláh, its prophet-founder who lived in Iran. The religion emphasizes the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. In BAHÁ'Í, the number 9 is associated with perfection and unity.
• CAT (59D: Animal inhabited by Joe Gardner in "Soul") In the 2020 animated Pixar movie, Soul, a music teacher named Joe Gardner ends up as a disembodied soul. In an attempt to reunite with his body, Joe's soul accidentally inhabits the body of a CAT. I have recently mentioned gaps in my movie watching (Hocus Pocus and Babe), so I feel the need to say that I have seen Soul. I highly recommend watching this movie if you haven't seen it; I found it thoroughly enjoyable, and not only because it has a CAT in it. Speaking of a CAT, here's a picture of Willow.
  
• ALI (62D: Access Tatyana) I put Tatyana ALI's name to her face, which I recognized, when she appeared in the October 22, 2021 puzzle.

Geography review:

• SEOUL (19A City home to Jogyesa Temple) The Jogyesa Temple in SEOUL, South Korea has been known by several names since it was constructed in 1395. Its current name was chosen in 1954 to recognize it as the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
• RICO (48A: Puerto ___) Puerto RICO is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located about 1,000 miles southeast of Florida. Puerto RICO is an unincorporated territory of the United States; its residents are US citizens but do not vote in U.S. Presidential elections. The capital of Puerto RICO is San Juan.
• ASIA (67A: Vietnam's continent) Vietnam is a country on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast ASIA. Its neighbors are China, Laos, and Cambodia. The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
• ALASKA (47D: State in which "Molly of Denali" is set) Molly of Denali is an animated TV series for children that premiered in 2019 on PBS Kids (U.S.) and CBC Kids (Canada). The show's title character, Molly Mabray (voiced by 14-year old indigenous actress Sovereign Bill) is a 10-year-old girl of Gwich'in, Koyukon, and Denai'ina Athabascan descent. Molly is a blogger, who shares about life in ALASKA. Each episode of Molly in Denali features two 11-minute animated segments separated by a live-action segment filmed in ALASKA. This is a great clue, because solvers who may not know of the TV show can be successful by remembering that Mt. Denali is in ALASKA. And then we learn about Molly in Denali!
• WACO (51D: Baylor University's home) Baylor University is located in WACO, Texas. Established in 1845, Baylor University is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas.
• INCA (52D: People of ancient Cuzco) Cuzco is a city in southeastern Peru, and was the capital of the INCA Empire from the 13th to 16th centuries.

SHH! What do you do when you want to discuss the puzzle but it's telling you to KEEP QUIET? I really enjoyed this theme, and all four theme answers. This puzzle is asymmetric, but only by one square, to accommodate the pair of theme answers that are 12 and 13-letters long. This "subtle asymmetry" may be my favorite type of asymmetry, as you may not notice it, and then if you do you say, "Is it really asymmetric?" In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I enjoyed WE'RE HIRING, DAHLIA, and IBEX. Thank you, Matthew, for this puzzle that was a fantastic way to begin my Saturday.